Eurocommunism in Asia: The Communist Party of Japan and the Soviet Union

Abstract

EUROCOMMUNISM HAS POSED a number of problems for Soviet policymakers in recent years. In the international communist movement, these parties have increasingly challenged Soviet organizational leadership. On the theoretical plane, their heterodox ideological innovations have challenged the Soviet Union's role as the arbiter of orthodoxy. On the diplomatic plane, their gains have complicated Soviet efforts to foster good state-to-state relations in order to promote trade and technological exchange. In addition, their foreign policy positions have often brought them into conflict with Soviet goals. The Soviet reaction to this challenge has been ambivalent and complex, sometimes highly critical and at other times more tolerant. There have been variations over time in the Soviet treatment of each party. Differences have also been observed in the Soviet response to various Eurocommunist parties with a more critical attitude being adopted toward some than toward others. Some of the vacillations and ambiguity in the Soviet reaction have been attributed to differences among the top Soviet leaders.1 Western analysts have also discerned differences of opinion among Soviet middle-level theorists regarding Eurocommunist ideological innovations.2 The treatment accorded a particular party is likely influenced by a number of factors including the extent of the party's challenge in the areas of ideology and foreign policy, its attitude toward the Soviet Union and China, its prestige in the international communist movement, its importance in its own country (as reflected by its current influence and future prospects), Soviet objectives in that country and