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In Defence of the October Revolution
Lecture given by Leon Trotsky to an audience of Social Democratic students in Copenhagen, November 27, 1932
32 pages, unknown
First published January 1, 1932
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Leon Trotsky
1,064 books801 followersSee also Лев Троцкий
Russian theoretician Leon Trotsky or Leon Trotski, originally Lev Davidovitch Bronstein, led the Bolshevik of 1917, wrote Literature and Revolution in 1924, opposed the authoritarianism of Joseph Stalin, and emphasized world; therefore later, the Communist party in 1927 expelled him and in 1929 banished him, but he included the autobiographical My Life in 1930, and the behest murdered him in exile in Mexico.
The exile of Leon Trotsky in 1929 marked rule of Joseph Stalin.
People better know this Marxist. In October 1917, he ranked second only to Vladimir Lenin. During the early days of the Soviet Union, he served first as commissar of people for foreign affairs and as the founder and commander of the Red Army and of war. He also ranked among the first members of the Politburo.
After a failed struggle of the left against the policies and rise in the 1920s, the increasing role of bureaucracy in the Soviet Union deported Trotsky. An early advocate of intervention of Army of Red against European fascism, Trotsky also agreed on peace with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. As the head of the fourth International, Trotsky continued to the bureaucracy in the Soviet Union, and Ramón Mercader, a Soviet agent, eventually assassinated him. From Marxism, his separate ideas form the basis of Trotskyism, a term, coined as early as 1905. Ideas of Trotsky constitute a major school of Marxist. The Soviet administration never rehabilitated him and few other political figures.
Russian theoretician Leon Trotsky or Leon Trotski, originally Lev Davidovitch Bronstein, led the Bolshevik of 1917, wrote Literature and Revolution in 1924, opposed the authoritarianism of Joseph Stalin, and emphasized world; therefore later, the Communist party in 1927 expelled him and in 1929 banished him, but he included the autobiographical My Life in 1930, and the behest murdered him in exile in Mexico.
The exile of Leon Trotsky in 1929 marked rule of Joseph Stalin.
People better know this Marxist. In October 1917, he ranked second only to Vladimir Lenin. During the early days of the Soviet Union, he served first as commissar of people for foreign affairs and as the founder and commander of the Red Army and of war. He also ranked among the first members of the Politburo.
After a failed struggle of the left against the policies and rise in the 1920s, the increasing role of bureaucracy in the Soviet Union deported Trotsky. An early advocate of intervention of Army of Red against European fascism, Trotsky also agreed on peace with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. As the head of the fourth International, Trotsky continued to the bureaucracy in the Soviet Union, and Ramón Mercader, a Soviet agent, eventually assassinated him. From Marxism, his separate ideas form the basis of Trotskyism, a term, coined as early as 1905. Ideas of Trotsky constitute a major school of Marxist. The Soviet administration never rehabilitated him and few other political figures.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2022
An introduction to revolutionary history and theory meets goddam poetic genius. Leon Trotsky was one of the brightest lights of his whole generation, and it’s a tragedy how little he’s been recognized for it.
December 7, 2023
- "Every man with experience of life can recall the picture of some youth that he has known, receptive, lyrical, all too susceptible, who later becomes suddenly under the influence of a powerful moral impetus, stronger, better balanced and hardly recognisable. In the developments of a whole nation, such moral transformations are wrought by the revolution."
- "Capitalism has outlived itself as a world system. It has ceased to fulfill its essential function: the raising of the level of human power and human wealth. Humanity cannot remain stagnant at the level which it has reached. Only a powerful increase in productive force and a sound, planned, that is, socialist organisation of production and distribution can assure humanity - all humanity - of a decent standard of life and at the same time give it the precious feeling of freedom with respect to its own economy. Freedom in two senses - first of all man will no longer be compelled to devote the greater part of his life to physical toil. Second, he will no longer be dependent on the laws of the market, that is, on the blind and obscure forces which work behind his back. He will build his economy freely, according to plan, with compass in hand. This time it is a question of subjecting the anatomy of society to the X-ray through and through, of disclosing all its secrets and subjecting all its functions to the reason and the will of collective humanity. In this sense, socialism must become a new step in the historical advance of mankind."
- "Capitalism has outlived itself as a world system. It has ceased to fulfill its essential function: the raising of the level of human power and human wealth. Humanity cannot remain stagnant at the level which it has reached. Only a powerful increase in productive force and a sound, planned, that is, socialist organisation of production and distribution can assure humanity - all humanity - of a decent standard of life and at the same time give it the precious feeling of freedom with respect to its own economy. Freedom in two senses - first of all man will no longer be compelled to devote the greater part of his life to physical toil. Second, he will no longer be dependent on the laws of the market, that is, on the blind and obscure forces which work behind his back. He will build his economy freely, according to plan, with compass in hand. This time it is a question of subjecting the anatomy of society to the X-ray through and through, of disclosing all its secrets and subjecting all its functions to the reason and the will of collective humanity. In this sense, socialism must become a new step in the historical advance of mankind."
February 8, 2025
This is a really incredible introduction to historic conditions which led to the success of the Russian Revolution and more importantly the indispensable role that was taken by the Bolshevik Party and Lenin in the defence of the proletarian revolution. While it is an introduction and admittable (even by Trotsky) doesn’t go in depth to all the details but it is simple and I believe in a very logical format puts forward all the important factors and explaining their importance.
It is another reminder that Trotsky might just be my favourite writer out of many Marxists both with his ability to communicate and his understanding of both historical and philosophical processes. This is a must read to start off your understanding of the Russian Revolution but also understanding why it was so important for the global proletariat.
It is another reminder that Trotsky might just be my favourite writer out of many Marxists both with his ability to communicate and his understanding of both historical and philosophical processes. This is a must read to start off your understanding of the Russian Revolution but also understanding why it was so important for the global proletariat.
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September 11, 2021But no ruling class has ever voluntarily and peacefully abdicated.
don't mind me, just trying to understand marxism better (although tbh this mostly went in one eye and out the other)
November 22, 2020
This is an excellent transcript of a speech and it details many of the key factors that lead to the Russian Revolutions of 1917.
I would highly recommend it as an introductory text on those events but for a more thorough understanding of what happened a reader must read Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution (in 3 Volumes).
I would highly recommend it as an introductory text on those events but for a more thorough understanding of what happened a reader must read Trotsky's History of the Russian Revolution (in 3 Volumes).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews