The paper presents a framework for understanding the evolution of communism. We suggest that the politico-economic system of communist regimes may be usefully seen as an institutionally and ideologically constrained bargaining game. We distinguish three stages of the develop ment of this "game"-pure communism, late communism, and constitutio nal communism. Pure communism is characterized by an aspiration to the total control over society, and a strong commitment to ideology. Constraints on bargaining weaken in late communism, resulting in a system with distinctive economic and political features, which we describe. Constitutio nal communism is an ideal type based on the current wave of reform, in which the power of communists is limited without being undermined. Its chief ingredients are the rule of law, separation of powers, communist corporatism, glasnost, and the market.
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