ABSTRACT
The Cold War, while greatly constraining the options available to the parties, does not appear to have extinguished this inclination. It was only in the years after 1956, however, that the search for autonomy began consistently to shape the parties’ behavior and choices. The ‘Soviet connection’ has been a source of continual ideological and strategic tension for the parties as they seek to achieve a workable equilibrium between their traditional international commitments and the requirements of their domestic strategy. Strategic and ideological autonomy from Moscow is a crucial component of the eurocommunist position. The Soviet model of socialism is also viewed increasingly critically by the eurocommunist parties, both with regard to the methods necessary for building a socialist society and the structure of such a society. Noticeable differences between the parties are evident with respect to the extent, coherence and frequency of such criticism.
