Almost all political experts expectedSocialism to dominate European politics after World War II. Socialismdid have its fling in Britain and its hour as part of coalition regimesin France, but in recent years Western Europe’s trend has beenincreasingly conservative. Bitter over being out of power, theSocialist parties, too doctrinally dogmatic to fit in with the currentprosperity, too inclined toward neutralism to fit in with the realitiesof the cold war, are now being rent by dispute. Since their economicdoctrines no longer appeal, left-wingers among them have been agitatingfor a softer cold-war policy to win votes. They cry for banning theH-bomb, for disarmament, for disengagement, for deals with Russia.
Last week this agitation—with its important bearing on the West’sstance toward Russia—reached a climax in Britain, West Germany andFrance.