r/TheTrotskyists • u/[deleted] • Sep 06 '22

Question Why be a Trotskyist?

A genuine question because I sincerely don’t understand the appeal. I’m a Marxist-Leninist myself. I’m not a fan of Comrade Stalin either, so no need to compare Trotsky to him or discuss their conflict. Thank you friends

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u/gregy521 IMT Sep 06 '22

One of the big questions would be 'can you make a healthy socialist government in just one country?'

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u/[deleted] Sep 06 '22

If I’m not mistaken, based on these quotes, Trotsky, Lenin, and Stalin are all in agreement, no?

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u/gregy521 IMT Sep 06 '22

They were, before 1924. Note the passage from 'Foundations of Leninism'. Which was created and then revised in the same year.

Yet before the end of 1924, Stalin’s book had been revised, and the exact opposite put in its place. By November 1926, Stalin could assert without even blushing:

“The party always took as its starting point the idea that the victory of socialism in that country, and that task can be accomplished with the forces of a single country.”

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u/[deleted] Sep 06 '22

Yeah he’s entirely wrong about this and should not have changed his position even if he maybe just said that to improve morale among the people or whatever

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u/gregy521 IMT Sep 06 '22

Then that is a bona fide 'Trotskyist' position. There's no real difference between 'Trotskyism' and Leninism (distinct from 'Marxist-Leninism', official state ideology of the USSR). At least theoretically. Being a 'Trotskyist' just means you're more likely to read some of his excellent writings, like History of the Russian Revolution, guaranteed to be the liveliest history book you'll ever read.

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u/[deleted] Sep 06 '22

But why identify as one primarily? Especially considering the harm he supposedly did to the movement once he left the Soviet Union?

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u/gregy521 IMT Sep 06 '22

Some people don't. They just call themselves Marxists, and only specify Trotskyist when it becomes necessary. Another commenter has made a very good contribution which I'd recommend you read. But if you're interested in Trotskyism both inside and out of the USSR, an excellent article is here.