Trotskyism

Trotskyism is a Marxist ideological current associated with the political theory and revolutionary practice of Leon Trotsky (1879- 1940), a central figure in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and one of the leading Marxist theorists of the twentieth century. Emerging as a distinct strand of revolutionary socialism in opposition to the policies of Joseph Stalin, Trotskyism is defined by its commitment to the concept of “permanent revolution” and its rejection of the doctrine of “socialism in one country.” Trotsky, a gifted orator, journalist, and organizer, played a decisive role in the Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917 and in the creation and leadership of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War. The ideological origins of Trotskyism can be traced to debates within the international socialist movement in the early 1900s over the strategy for achieving socialism. While Lenin emphasized the necessity of a tightly organized revolutionary vanguard party, Trotsky initially favored a more flexible approach that blended elements of mass participation and centralized leadership. The 1917 revolution brought him into close alignment with Lenin, but after Lenin’s death in 1924, deep fissures emerged within the Soviet leadership. Stalin’s consolidation of power involved a decisive break with Trotsky’s internationalist orientation, replacing it with the assertion that socialism could be built successfully within the Soviet Union’s national borders before expanding abroad.

Trotsky opposed this shift, arguing that the survival of the Soviet state depended on the extension of the socialist revolution to advanced capitalist countries. He contended that the isolation of the Soviet Union would inevitably lead to bureaucratic degeneration, a prediction he believed was fulfilled under Stalin’s increasingly repressive regime. As Stalin marginalized and expelled his rivals, Trotsky was removed from positions of influence, expelled from the Communist Party, exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929, and ultimately assassinated in Mexico in 1940 by a Stalinist agent. His followers, organized in various international networks, continued to propagate his ideas, framing them as the authentic continuation of revolutionary Marxism against what they saw as the betrayals of the Soviet bureaucracy.

Core Characteristics and Theoretical Perspectives

At the heart of Trotskyist theory is the doctrine of permanent revolution. Developed in the context of early twentieth- century Russia, Trotsky’s theory held that in countries with delayed capitalist development, the bourgeoisie would be too weak or too tied to existing feudal or imperial interests to carry out a democratic revolution. Therefore, the working class, in alliance with the peasantry, would need to lead both the democratic and socialist stages of revolution in an uninterrupted (“permanent”) process. Once in power, the proletariat would initiate socialist transformation while actively promoting international revolution, as socialism could not be secured in isolation. Trotskyism’s second defining feature is its opposition to Stalinism, which Trotskyists characterize as a bureaucratic deformation of the workers’ state. Trotsky argued that the Soviet Union under Stalin remained a degenerated workers’ state-its property relations were socialist in form (state ownership of the means of production), but political power was monopolized by a bureaucratic caste whose privileges undermined proletarian democracy. Unlike anarchists or right-wing critics, Trotskyists did not advocate the restoration of capitalism but called for a political revolution to overthrow the bureaucracy while maintaining collectivized economic foundations.

Trotskyism also emphasizes internationalism, grounded in the Marxist belief that capitalism is a global system and that socialist transformation must be international in scope. This perspective underpinned Trotsky’s founding of the Fourth International in 1938, intended as a revolutionary alternative to the Stalin-controlled Communist International (Comintern). The Fourth International sought to unite revolutionary socialist organizations worldwide under a program committed to permanent revolution, workers’ democracy, and opposition to both capitalist imperialism and Stalinist authoritarianism. In theoretical debates, Trotskyists have often engaged with questions of transitional demands, the role of the revolutionary party, and the strategy for building mass movements under conditions of political repression. Transitional demands, a concept elaborated in the Fourth International’s founding documents, are demands that address immediate needs but point toward the necessity of socialist transformation- such as calls for workers’ control of production or the expropriation of key industries.

Impact, Debates, and Legacy

Trotskyism’s political impact has been both global and fragmented. During the mid-twentieth century, Trotskyist movements played influential roles in labor struggles, anti-colonial movements, and student activism in various countries, despite their often small size and persistent internal divisions. In Latin America, Trotskyist currents were active in revolutionary movements in Bolivia, Argentina, and Cuba, although they frequently clashed with nationalist or Stalinist forces. In France, Trotskyist groups became important players in the events of May 1968, influencing radical student and labor mobilizations. In the United States, Britain, and Australia, Trotskyist organizations contributed to campaigns for civil rights, opposition to the Vietnam War, and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. However, Trotskyism’s influence has been limited by chronic factionalism. The Fourth International itself split into rival tendencies over interpretations of the Soviet Union, strategies toward reformist parties, and assessments of new revolutionary situations. Some currents, such as the International Socialist Tendency, emphasized work within existing labor and left parties, while others prioritized building independent revolutionary organizations. These divisions often reflected deeper theoretical disagreements, such as the characterization of postwar regimes in Eastern Europe, China, and Cuba-were they degenerated workers’ states, deformed workers’ states, or state capitalist societies?

Trotskyism’s intellectual legacy has been significant in political theory and historical analysis. Trotsky’s writings, including The History of the Russian Revolution, The Revolution Betrayed, and Permanent Revolution, remain central texts for students of Marxism. His critique of bureaucratic authoritarianism and his insistence on linking democratic freedoms to socialist politics have resonated beyond strictly Trotskyist circles. In particular, his analysis of how revolutions can degenerate under conditions of isolation and scarcity has influenced debates on socialist governance and the dangers of concentrated political power. In the post- Cold War era, Trotskyist movements have adapted to new political conditions. Some have participated in broad anti- globalization coalitions, anti-austerity movements, and campaigns for climate justice, framing these struggles in terms of a transitional program toward socialism. Others have focused on preserving the historical memory of the Russian Revolution as an alternative to both neoliberal capitalism and the Stalinist model. While Trotskyism remains a minority current on the left, its emphasis on internationalism, democratic accountability, and revolutionary continuity ensures its ongoing relevance in radical political discourse.

Trotskyism occupies a distinctive position within the history of Marxist thought, embodying a steadfast commitment to international revolution, workers’ democracy, and opposition to bureaucratic authoritarianism. Its theoretical foundation in permanent revolution challenges both reformist gradualism and nationalist limitations, asserting that socialism must be achieved through an uninterrupted process of transformation that is global in scope. Politically, Trotskyism’s influence has far exceeded its organizational size, shaping labor movements, anti-imperialist struggles, and debates within the broader socialist left. At the same time, persistent factionalism and the collapse of the Soviet bloc have forced Trotskyist movements to continually reassess their strategies in a rapidly changing world. As a body of theory and practice, Trotskyism remains an essential lens for understanding the ideological splits within the Marxist tradition and the enduring tensions between revolutionary ideals and political realities.

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Trotskyism