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Quentin Peel, International Affairs editor of the Financial Times, looks at the communist regimes and movements orphaned by the collapse of the governments of the Soviet Union and eastern Europe.

In Programme Two, Quentin looks at the new self-proclaimed "radical" governments in Latin America, such as Venezuela and Bolivia, which draw inspiration and succour from that key "orphan of 1989", Cuba.

Are aspects of communism attractive to them or are they rather populist governments which admire Havana's opposition to Washington?

And in south and south-east Asia, movements such as the Naxalites in the Indian "red corridor" and the Mindanoan insurgents in the Philippines, are raising questions about longer-term political stability.

So while communism is history in Europe might it prove to be part of the political future in Asia?

First broadcast on 14 December 2009