The focus of the volume is the question of the continuity and change of party-shaped, formerly Moscow-oriented communism after the demise of "real socialism". The European countries, which were formerly dominated by the respective Communist parties as monopolistic state parties, are treated in the same way as the states in which nolens volens-oriented organizations based on state socialism acted within a pluralistic party landscape. The consideration of both areas should initiate comparative considerations and contribute to a better understanding of the role of the corresponding formations in the respective party systems.