It seemed like a hope for the future when Marx published. But the remaining Communist countries ain’t so Communist no more. No one talks confidently about the fulfillment of Marx’ predictions – Communist parties stay in power more by inertia than enthusiasm. Cuba no longer sends troops to fight in civil wars in Africa. When the Chinese make demands on Taiwan, they always say, “Taiwan is historically a province of China,” not, “We must liberate the Taiwanese proletariat from the bourgeoisie.” It is impossible to imagine the Cultural Revolution happening in today’s China, because nobody is that enthusiastic for Communism any more. Is the whole thing officially over?