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It’s a matter of degrees. Most of Europe has active socialist parties who have been in power at one time or another, i.e. Sweden.

George Orwell (aka Eric Blair) was an avowed socialist, but hated communism.

Apparently socialism remains in check as long as there is a counter force at work.

I've spent time in Europe and have witnessed what you are saying. I think it depends on how socialism arrives on the scene. If a socialist politician is elected and doesn't challenge the constitution then most of the time things stay afloat. There are changes, loss of personal rights and freedoms, and great economic loss for capitalists but the ship does not sink for awhile. Eventually the economic situation gets where France is today and that is bankrupt. I have family who just returned from three years teaching in France. In France a right wing leader has just been elected by a socialist society in hopes that he can save their socialist utopia. Now doesn't that make a lot of since. If socialism is imposed by force or pushed by elected officials beyond what is allowed by the local constitution then communism will result. The old constitution can not be allowed to function properly or it would expel the socialist from power.
Have you ever been to Iceland?