Trotskyism

Trotskyism -- Marxist ideology -- theory of permanent revolution -- theory of Leon Trotsky d. 1940 -- Bolshevik Party leader, Russian Revolution -- theory that (historically) economic system had to be seen -- as world system rather than national system -- all national economic development (according to Trotsky) -- affected by laws of world market -- and through regional factors & pressures from surrounding countries -- in Trotsky view, Russian Revolution, to be successful -- needs revolutions in other countries, esp. Western Europe -- emphasis of hegemony of working class over revolutionary class -- due to position in industry & advanced sectors of economy Counterposed to Trotsky's ideas of permanent revolution -- equals:  socialism in one country national self-sufficiency & self-centredness -- by 1920s Soviet Union Communist Party overly bureaucratised -- 1924:  Trotsky attack on bureaucracy of Bolshevik Old Guard -- called for more democracy within and beyond Communist Party -- opposed the conception of a monolithic party -- 1929:  Stalin exiles Trotsky -- Trotskyists increase attack on Soviet bureaucracy (dictatorship of one) -- claim of 'degenerated workers' state': --  means of production nationalised -- but bureaucratic regime rules -- 1930s:  looks like they kissed & made up in the 30s to fight rise of fascism -- 1940:  Trotsky ice-picked in Mexico, reportedly by Stalin's agent -- Trotskyism: loose generic term for extreme revolutionary doctrines -- united only by opposition to the bourgeois http://www.britannica.com/topic/Trotskyism otherwise described as: communism - a political theory favouring collectivism in a classless society http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Trotskyism COMMENT Well, it doesn't look like Trotskyism is for me. I'm built more along Stalin lines.  But I'm not really into any kind of collectivism, so revolution is out for me. The 'permanent revolution' and world economic system viewpoint sounds a lot like capitalism, in that capitalism is permanently at war, either trying to spread capitalism or trying to prevent other nations choosing their own way of life, while aiming to control as much in world trade as the capitalists can control.