NCJ Number
62357
Date Published
1961
Length
135 pages
Annotation
LEON TROTSKY DEFENDS THE BOLSHEVIKS' USE OF TERRORISM DURING THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AND ARGUES THAT TERRORISM IS THE SOLE MEANS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF SOCIALISM.
Abstract
WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO KARL KAUTSKY'S ATTACK ON BOLSHEVISM, THE BOOK REASONS THAT SOCIALISM IS MAN'S HIGHEST GOAL. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THE ARGUMENT CONTENDS, MANKIND HAS BEEN CARRIED FORWARD THROUGH REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY THE PROGRESSIVE CLASS AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE CLASS. THE REVOLUTIONARY CLASS MUST USE ALL AVAILABLE MEANS TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS, INCLUDING TERRORISM IF REQUIRED. INTIMIDATION, THROUGH TERRORISM, IS A POWERFUL POLICY WEAPON. THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS FURTHER THAT A PROLETARIAT DICTATORSHIP IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONTROL THE STATE. KAUTSKY'S ARGUMENTS RELATING TO PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY AS A MEANS OF CONTROL BY THE PROLETARIAT ARE REFUTED AS ARE HIS THEORIES ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND FLAWS IN THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT'S ORGANIZATION OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE EVENTS IN BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE LATE 1800'S AND EARLY 1900'S; THE PARIS COMMUNE OF 1871; MARX'S AND ENGEL'S THEORIES; AND OTHER POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC ISSUES. ALSO INCLUDED ARE TROTSKY'S 1935 INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND ENGLISH EDITION, HIS 1936 COMMENTARY ON EVENTS IN FRANCE, AND A FOREWORD AND SUGGESTED READING LIST BY ONE OF HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES. (CFW)