How Much Do You Know About Trotskyism? Quiz

Leon Trotsky developed the political ideology and branch of Marxism known as Trotskyism. Trotskyism advocates for permanent revolution, internationalism, and the opposition to Stalinism, which Trotsky saw as a betrayal of Marxist principles.

Trotskyism places emphasis on criticism, analysis, and specific stances regarding the post-1924 leadership of the USSR. It includes support for political revolution within the Soviet Union and the acknowledgment of degenerated workers' states. This underscores Trotskyism's active engagement in evaluating and responding to the developments within the socialist movement during and after Trotsky's time.

In the context of Trotskyism, achieving social revolution in advanced capitalist countries is deemed crucial through working-class mass action. Trotskyism emphasizes the active participation of the working class in collective movements as a fundamental means of bringing about significant social and political transformations, aligning with Trotsky's core beliefs in the agency of the proletariat in shaping revolutionary change.

Leon Trotsky and Trotskyists described himself as a Bolshevik–Leninist within the realm of Marxism. This designation underscores his alignment with the principles and ideologies of the Bolshevik party, led by Vladimir Lenin. Trotsky's identification as a Bolshevik–Leninist reflects his commitment to the revolutionary Marxist ideals and the strategic approach advocated by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution and its aftermath.

Trotsky supported the idea of founding a vanguard party of the proletariat. This concept involves creating a leadership group that represents the working class's interests and guides the revolutionary movement towards the establishment of a socialist society.

After his expulsion from the Soviet Union, Leon Trotsky continued to oppose the Soviet government by becoming the Head of the Fourth International. The Fourth International was an organization that Trotsky founded in 1938 to promote his version of revolutionary socialism and to oppose Stalin's leadership and policies within the Soviet Union.

A fundamental tenet of Trotskyism is the permanently revolutionary approach, opposing the two-stage theory in Marxist strategies. Trotsky advocated for a continuous and global revolutionary process, rejecting the idea of stagism, which argued that underdeveloped countries must first pass through a stage of capitalism before moving to a socialist stage.

Leon Trotsky was purged from the Communist Party and Soviet politics in 1927. This marked a significant turning point in his political career, leading to his removal from power and subsequent expulsion from the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) by order of Joseph Stalin.

Trotskyists believe that Marxist–Leninist regimes will lead to the establishment of a degenerated or deformed workers' state, characterized by an unaccountable bureaucratic elite and a lack of true democracy or workers' control of industry. This perspective stands in contrast to the ideals of genuine socialism and highlights Trotskyism's critical stance toward certain developments in Marxist–Leninist theory and practice.

Trotsky described himself as an orthodox Marxist, emphasizing his commitment to the fundamental principles of Marxist theory. He considered himself a revolutionary Marxist aligning with the traditions of Marx, Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Karl Liebknecht, and Rosa Luxemburg.