The dissolution of the Communist International (Comintern) was formally announced by Joseph Stalin in 1943, after decades of promoting Marxist-Leninist ideology across the globe. Established in 1919, the Comintern aimed to encourage worldwide communist revolution and supported various socialist parties worldwide. However, by the early 1940s, the shifting tides of World War II influenced Soviet leadership's approach. As the Soviet Union faced the Nazi threat, Stalin recognized the need to fortify relationships with Western powers like the United States and the United Kingdom, which led to a reevaluation of previous foreign strategies that promoted global communist uprisings.

This new focus marked a critical pivot from the earlier, more aggressive stance on promoting communism abroad, toward a pragmatic approach emphasizing national interests. The announcement was strategically timed, as the USSR sought aid from its allies in the form of military supplies and support. Dissolving the Comintern allowed Stalin to project a more cooperative image, a necessity considering the current wartime alliances. This restructuring also had implications for various communist parties around the world, as they now had to reassess their participation and align more closely with their respective national contexts rather than a central international agenda.

Moreover, the disbandment indicated a fundamental transformation in the Soviet model of governance and foreign policy. It showcased a shift from the ideology that had characterized the Comintern years to a focus on 'socialism in one country.' The legacy of the Comintern continued to affect global communist movements, as many parties had to adjust to a post-Comintern reality. The aftermath allowed for more autonomous local movements while diminishing the centralized influence of Moscow over international communism.