Cominform

Definition

Cominform, short for Communist Information Bureau, was an organization established in 1947 by the Soviet Union to promote and coordinate communist parties worldwide. It served as a platform for sharing strategies and ideologies among communist nations, emphasizing the need for solidarity against capitalist influences during the early Cold War era. This organization played a significant role in shaping the global landscape of competing nationalisms, particularly between capitalism and communism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cominform was established in October 1947 during a conference in Szklarska Poręba, Poland, with representatives from various communist parties.
2. The main goal of Cominform was to strengthen the influence of the Soviet Union over international communist movements and facilitate collaboration among them.
3. One of the first actions of Cominform was to issue a resolution denouncing the Marshall Plan, viewing it as a means for Western imperialism to expand capitalist influence in Europe.
4. Cominform was dissolved in 1956 following the de-Stalinization period, reflecting the internal conflicts and shifts within the communist movement, particularly after the Hungarian Revolution.
5. The organization was crucial in promoting policies that led to the establishment of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, reinforcing the divide between East and West during the Cold War.

Review Questions

• How did Cominform serve as a tool for the Soviet Union to maintain influence over international communist parties?
  • Cominform acted as a centralized platform that facilitated communication and coordination among communist parties around the world. By promoting Soviet ideologies and strategies, it enabled Moscow to exert control over these parties, ensuring they aligned with Soviet interests. This strengthened the global communist movement while creating a unified front against capitalism, illustrating how Cominform was critical in maintaining Soviet dominance during the Cold War.
• Analyze how Cominform's stance on the Marshall Plan reflected its broader ideological conflict with capitalism.
  • Cominform's opposition to the Marshall Plan exemplified its commitment to countering Western capitalist initiatives. By denouncing this American economic aid program as a tool for imperialism, Cominform sought to galvanize communist parties against what it perceived as a threat to their sovereignty and ideology. This stance highlighted the deepening ideological rift between capitalism and communism during this period, reinforcing the notion that economic policies were not merely fiscal decisions but also ideological battlegrounds.
• Evaluate the impact of Cominform's dissolution in 1956 on the landscape of international communism and its subsequent evolution.
  • The dissolution of Cominform in 1956 marked a significant turning point in international communism, reflecting internal divisions and changes within the movement post-Stalin. This event allowed for more independent actions by various communist parties, leading to diverse interpretations of Marxism-Leninism. The decline of centralized control diminished Moscow's ability to dictate policy across nations, leading to variations in communist governance that ultimately contributed to fragmentation within the global communist movement by the end of the 20th century.

Related terms

Kominform: An alternate spelling of Cominform, referring to the same organization focused on promoting communist ideologies across various nations.

Warsaw Pact:

A military alliance formed in 1955 among the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states as a response to NATO, further solidifying communist unity.

Third International: An earlier organization founded in 1919 to advocate for worldwide communism, influencing the formation of Cominform as a successor in coordinating communist efforts.