“The most unfortunate political phenomenon in the 20h century has been the rise to international power of the Communist movement.” – Introduction. This incendiary report on the status of Communist movements worldwide was compiled by a ‘Special Subcommittee on Security Affairs’, chaired by Wisconsin Senator Alexander Wiley (also Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations). It was published by the Government Printing Office in 1953. The temperature of the Cold War was high – fear of imminent nuclear war, the proxy conflict in Korea, and rampant McCarthyism all created an environment of tension and suspicion, domestically and abroad. The contents offer an interesting window into the thoughts of Congressional leadership at the time. A brief introduction by Wiley outlines the threats of the Communist movement, noting its “ability cunningly to construct diverse appeals to virtually every group in society, to countries at all levels of social, political, economic and industrial organization, to peoples of every creed, every race and every color.” It’s followed by a lengthy printed table that lists the status of Communism in nearly every nation on the planet. Dates of last elections (where applicable), parliamentary status (Communist and non-Communist), approximate membership numbers, and sources of party strength are provided for each country or group. A somewhat simple political map was issued to accompany the report. The political boundaries reflect 1952, with the exception of Poland, Japan, and the Baltic States, which are shown as of 1937.
