Crypto-communism explained

Crypto-communism (or cryptocommunism) is a secret support for, or admiration of, communism. Individuals and groups have been labelled as crypto-communists, often as a result of being associated with, or influenced by communists.^[1] Crypto-communism among political leaders aided the sovietization of the Baltic states.^[2]

Historical use of the term

In 1947, Winston Churchill described a crypto-communist as, "one who has not the moral courage to explain the destination for which he is making".^[3] In 1949, shortly before his death, George Orwell compiled a list for the Information Research Department of the British Foreign Office of thirty-eight journalists and writers who in his opinion were crypto-communists or fellow travellers.^{[4] [5] [6]}

In 1960, Bruce Hutchison described what he viewed as a crypto-communist threat from the left wing of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan under Nobusuke Kishi.^[7] In West Germany, some accused the Social Democratic Party under the leadership of Willy Brandt of being a crypto-communist front.^[8]

The Black Book of Communism referred to some individuals as crypto-communist, namely Damyan Velchev and Ludvík Svoboda.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Book: The Palgrave Handbook of Anti-Communist Persecutions . 9 . 2020 . 9783030549633 . . Christian Gerlach . Clemens Six.
2. Book: Shtromas, Alexander . Totalitarianism and the Prospects for World Order, Closing the Door on the Twentieth Century . 257–258 . 2003 . 9780739105344 . Lexington Books.
3. News: Crypto-Communist Charges By Mr. Churchill. . 19 April 1947 . 28 November 2021 . 3 .
4. News: Garton Ash, Timothy . Timothy Garton Ash . Orwell's List . . 25 September 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305071504/http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2003/09/25/orwells-list/. 5 March 2016. 28 November 2021.
5. News: Blair's babe, Did love turn Orwell into a government stooge? . . Celia Kirwan . 21 June 2003 . 28 November 2021.
6. Book: Defty, Andrew . Britain, America and Anti-Communist Propaganda 1945-53: The Information Research Department . 2004-03-01 . Routledge . 978-1-135-76014-4 . 3 . en.
7. News: Hutchinson . Bruce . 27 February 1960 . Can we keep the Japanese on our side? . . 3 September 2022.
8. News: Times . Craig R. Whitney; Special to The New York . 1974-03-10 . A Postage Stamp Raises West German Tempers . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-09-03 . 0362-4331.
9. Book: Albert . G. Peter . The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression . Courtois . Stéphane . Werth . Nicolas . Paczkowski . Andrzej . Panne . Jean-Louis . Bartosek . Karel . Margolin . Jean-Louis . 1999 . Harvard University Press . 978-0-674-07608-2 . 398 . en.