The collapse of communism was one of the most defining moments of the twentieth century At its peak more than a third of the world's population had lived under communist power What is communism? Where did the idea come from & what attracted people to it? What is the future for communism? This Very Short Introduction considers these questions & more in the search to explore & understand communism Explaining the theory behind its ideology & examining the history & mindset behind its political economic & social structures Leslie Holmes examines the highs & lows of communist power & its future in today's world ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable