Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
I don't even know what the present status of the Communist Party USA is. But I remember the tens of millions of people that were killed globally under that party in the last century. Still, I was surprised to read this report coming out of Prague that the Communist Party there might get banned. Even more surprising is that the party hasn't renounced its murderous and violent ways.
The party, which is vehemently opposed to NATO, brands opponents "terrorists" and maintains friendly ties with the ruling Communists in Cuba, China and North Korea.
Unlike most other communist parties in the region that have joined the left-wing mainstream, the Czech party has maintained its hardline stance.
Supporters of the ban say it is a direct successor of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, whose members killed more than 240 political prisoners while thousands of other opponents died in prisons.
Is that a good idea to ban the party? What should the standard be for deciding which parties are legal and which are banned?
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Jun '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
I generally oppose banning parties. If they are a real force, it will give them more credence than they deserve. Let them win or lose in the marketplace of ideas.
The only line I would draw would be for parties that actively promote the violent overthrow of a lawful, constitutional government. (Query: would that include the far left in America?)
Oct '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
I am 100% A-OK with banning parties that not only advocate murder, but have had the courage of their convictions, so to speak, and done it.
Jul '11
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
I think I'm with Paul. The NAZI Party, The Communist Party, these would all be things to avoid.
May '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
No party can be tolerated by a free and democratic government that seeks to overthrow that government or that denies the basic tenets of its constitution.
Jul '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
tabula rasa: I generally oppose banning parties. If they are a real force, it will give them more credence than they deserve. Let them win or lose in the marketplace of ideas.
The only line I would draw would be for parties that actively promote the violent overthrow of a lawful, constitutional government. (Query: would that include the far left in America?) · Jul 29 at 8:10am
According to Stanley Kurtz's Radical in Chief, not only yes, but they are totally frustrated that a widespread violent overthrow of American government has not materialized. Bearing in mind that he is speaking to the Obamas and Reverend Wrights, not the Mickey Kauses and Pat Caddells.
Jun '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
Upon reading the article, I didn't see anything that says the CP has acted as a direct threat. I'm inclined to just let it be and allow it to die a slow death in the marketplace of ideas (per tabula rasa's comment) Based on what I read in a post here recently about Margaret Thatcher, it appeared that the Czech Republic had undergone a lustration process, so the most dangerous Communists may very well be marginalized or irrelevant now. The rest are likely to be malcontents and slow learners who just need a voice to release some pressure in society. I'm not familiar enough with Czech politics, so I'll defer to better expertise, but I'd just leave it alone.
My only hesitation is that smaller countries, especially fledgling democracies, can be vulnerable to small, but fervent political groups, but it seems that the Czech Republic is very stable and able to absorb the Commies into the system without driving them underground.
It looks like there is plenty of support for banning them, but I'd proceed with caution. There is still a large communist contingent in Parliament in Russia, but they are virtually worthless.
May '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
Yes they can be, so long as the free and democratic government has the institutional structures to prevent such occurrences. That said, if a political force becomes so powerful that it can overthrow the existing institutions, then outlawing it seems rather fruitless in the first place, does it not?
It seems problematic to suggest that we should deny a basic constitutional tenant (freedom of association) to a specific group under the justification that the said group supports the denial of such tenants. This is the type of rationale embraced by, well...communists...
Edited on Jul 29, 2011 at 2:11pmOct '10
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
The nice thing about this question is that it isn't hypothetical: there are parties with plenty enough history to be able to judge whether they should be banned or not.
While I'm sympathetic to "leave it to the marketplace of ideas," the rise of the Nazi party in Germany in 1936 is instructive. The Weimar Republic, which had only existed since 1919, was made more fragile by a range of circumstances, including the reparations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. Monetary policy led to the Weimar hyperinflation. The Nazis didn't seize power in violent revolution; it was handed to them on a silver platter because they promised solutions. Like all socialist systems, it seemed to work at first. Like all totalitarian dictatorships, it wasn't long before an emergency arising from unclear causes—the Reichstag fire—served as a pretext for imposing absolute State authority. The rest, as they say, is history.
The astonishing thing isn't that a government that used to be under the jackboot would consider banning the jackboot. The astonishing thing is that any self-described moral human being would want anything to do with parties associated with Communism or Nazism.
Mar '11
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
First off... its their country and so it's their business.
I'd just say that personally, if you're going to ban far-right parties, aren't you bound to also ban far left ones? Picking and choosing who to ban without clear, firm rules and and clear reasoning is a road to deep trouble. So yeah, either un-ban the far right parties that you've already banned, or be consistent and ban the commies too. But, as I said, be consistent. Me, I dont' think you should ban anyone. Nations should choose their fates, so if a nation wanted to vote a communist or fascist party into power, let them.
Edited on Jul 29, 2011 at 12:44pmMar '11
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
In the end, you'll only be banning the label, not the nitwittery behind it. A "21st Century Progressive" party spouting state ownership and control of the means of production may not call itself the Communist Party, but it would be just as red.
You would have to go back to the Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween movies to find anything that is as hard to kill as a bad idea.
May '11
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
What are the Czechs seeing that requires the banning of the CP? I don't think we have the whole story here.
The Czech Republic is fairly stable but the Czechs remember...everything from Lidice to the Czech spring. They are seeing something they don't like and are trying to stop it.
Mollie's question lacks the context of "in what country" would you ban the CP. Would we ban the CP in the USA? We haven't. But our Republic is older and our political system is exceptional. The CP will always (I hope) be a fringe here. But in Czecho? Not so fringe; not so long ago.
Mar '11
Re: Czechs Consider Banning Communist Party
What is wrong with these Czech communists?
Why have'nt they adopted the usual tactic of changing their names, reinventing themselves as 'Greens' and running for office. They could do a lot more damage that way.
Would banning them make them smarter?