Decades of ideological struggle inside the revolutionary movement in Russia culminated in the successful revolution of 1917. In the heat of that revolution, Lenin and Trotsky found themselves in full agreement on the tasks facing the movement. Trotsky joined the Bolshevik Party and the two revolutionaries led the October Revolution, which transformed human history.
After Lenin’s death, Trotsky’s past differences with Lenin were dragged up, distorted and put to use in the factional struggle against Trotsky. But the struggle against ‘Trotskyism’ in reality severed the ideas of the Communist movement not just from those of Trotsky, but also those of Lenin and Marxism.
This legacy is one we live with to this day, with continued distortions of not just the ideas of Trotsky, but also those of Lenin. This is why Wellred is this year republishing Lenin & Trotsky – What They Really Stood For to defend the genuine ideas of Lenin and Trotsky against slanders and misconceptions. This will serve a new generation of revolutionaries in the ideas that shook the world.
Reading list
Books
Leon Trotsky – “The Permanent Revolution”
Articles
Ted Grant – “Trotsky’s Relevance Today”
Alan Woods – “Lenin’s last struggle”
Niklas Albin Svensson – “Socialism in one country – how Stalin abandoned Marxism”
Joe Attard – “Trotsky, 1905 and the Permanent Revolution”
Podcasts
Spectre of Communism – “Is socialism in one country possible? A reply to the Young Communist League”
Spectre of Communism – “What is the Permanent Revolution?”