The Italian Communist Party (PCI) was a political party in Italy founded in 1921. It emerged from the Italian Socialist Party and was influenced by the Russian Revolution. The PCI aimed to promote Marxist-Leninist principles and sought to represent the working class in Italy. Throughout its history, the PCI played a significant role in Italian politics, especially after World War II, when it became one of the largest communist parties in Western Europe. The party gradually shifted towards a more moderate stance in the 1970s and eventually dissolved in 1991, leading to the formation of the Democratic Party of the Left.