This book analyzes the historical and contemporary political roles of armies in the majority of the world's Communist countries, stressing the problems faced and overcome by Communist parties in the creation and development of legitimate and effective armies. The authors, all area specialists, explore the sources of the dramatic differences between the highly visible and powerful political roles of the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Cuban armies, the small but increasing political role of the Soviet army, and the minimal political roles of most Eastern European armies. Emphasized are such variables as the nature of revolution, the role of civil war, and the extent of external interference (particularly from the Soviet Union). The authors show how these variables are key factors in determining the path of army political development.