But China and India are in Asia. and for other reasons may be exceptions to the theory. Let us consider Europe. At the end of World War I Lenin was positive that Germany and then the rest of Europe would soon follow Russia into bolshevism. Italy. Poland. Ireland. and Portugual were well near the bottom of the economic ladder. While not even remotely approaching Asiatic poverty. they at least qualified for arguments sake as breeding spots for communism if the theory of backward economies is accepted. Despite admittedly low living standards compared with more prosperous European neighbors. Ireland and Portugal have never had enough Communists to make up a corporals guard.