COMMUNISM TO DAY
communism is dead in most countries and unwell in a few others although more optimistic Marxists insist that it has simply reached the end of its first epoch. Its critics argue that it was always structurally flawed strongest in its critique of capitalism and weakest in its provision of blueprints for change. Its supporters argue that it was never applied in the way Marx predicted was abused by Lenin Stalin and Mao and has been unfairly discredited. Wherever the truth lies most former strongholds of communism have abandoned the Soviet model of government and perhaps even communism as an ideology. Marxism however is still popular with some political scientists as a theory of economics and politics and is still used to point out some of the shortcomings of capitalism.