Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This examination of the historical relationship between Socialist and Communist parties in France, Italy, and Spain since 1920 contends that during the 1960s and 1970s these parties made critical alliance decisions that shaped their subsequent political fortunes. Enemy Brothers, based on field work and interviews, compares and explains these strategies, stressing the influence of institutional arrangements, political party culture, and leadership.
Synopsis
Since the 1920s, Socialist and Communist parties in Europe and elsewhere have engaged in episodes of both rivalry and cooperation, with each seeking to dominate the European Left. Enemy Brothers analyzes how this relationship has developed over the past century, focusing on France, Italy, and Spain, where Socialists and Communists have been politically important. Drawing on fieldwork and interviews in all three nations, W. Rand Smith identifies the critical junctures that these parties faced and the strategic choices they made, especially regarding alliance partners. In explaining the parties' diverse alliance strategies, Enemy Brothers stresses the impact of institutional arrangements, party culture, and leadership.