Socialism in Europe

In October 1983 the Wall Street Journal commented, with obvious pleasure, that “the idea called socialism is dead.” France, “the advanced country that took socialism most at its word, has seen the ‘future’ and even its intellectuals have acknowledged it doesn’t work.” Soon afterward the Journal called M. Mitterrand ”the best thing to happen to Italy in years,” because his record in office had led “his socialist colleague, Bettin...