Books by Leon Trotsky

This book is correctly regarded as one of Trotsky's finest classics. It is a product of a sharp polemic within the American trotskyist movement during the period 1939-40. This was a dispute which touched on the very fundamentals of Marxism. It was for this reason that Trotsky himself participated in this struggle in the form of a series of articles and letters that are brought together in this volume.The issues covered concern the essence of Marxist theory and deal with such questions as: The class nature of the Soviet state. The defence of the Soviet Union against imperialist attack. Bolshevik principles of organisation. Dialectical Materialism.This book is Trotsky at his best: profound, concise and theorectically razor sharp.

The Revolution Betrayed is one of the most important Marxist texts of all time. It is the only serious Marxist analysis of what happened to the Russian Revolution after the death of Lenin. In this book, Trotsky provided a brilliant and profound analysis of Stalinism, which has never been improved upon, let alone superseded. With a delay of 60 years, it was completely vindicated by history. Without a thorough knowledge of this work, it is impossible to understand the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the events since then in Russia and on a world scale. This remarkable work predicted the fate of the USSR down to the last detail. In the period of so-called market reform, Russia experienced the biggest collapse in world economic history. Just in the first five years alone, the economy contracted by a staggering sixty percent. Such a drop is unprecedented in economic history. It was like a catastrophic defeat in war. The collapse of the USSR has led to social disintegration. The elements of barbarism have all reappeared. Poverty, beggary, drunkenness, drug addiction, prostitution, crime, epidemics have spread to an unparalleled degree. Sections of the youth are affected by lumpenisation. At the same time, the mafia capitalists have accrued massive wealth by plundering the former nationalised industries as well as the rich sources of oil and other resources. The bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet Union and its eventual fall must be carefully studied, if we are to be able to answer the questions of the workers and youth. And the best explanation that can be found is in the pages of this wonderful classic of Marxism. Only the restoration of a nationalised planned economy can create the conditions for a revival of Russia's colossal productive potential. But this cannot mean a return to the old Stalinist regime. Only a regime of real workers' democracy, along the lines of October 1917, can provide Russia with a way out of the present impasse. As Trotsky points out in a most graphic and profound passage from The Revolution Betrayed, a nationalised planned economy needs democracy as the human body needs oxygen.

This priceless historical document features firsthand accounts from top levels of leadership in the Russian revolutions of 1905 and 1917, chronicling the struggle to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat.

Frontmatter -- EDITOR'S NOTE -- CONTENTS -- DOCUMENTS 436-796 -- 436 - 580 -- 581 - 707 -- 707 - 777 -- 777 - 796 -- Appendix I and II -- A Postscript to The Trotsky Papers -- List of abbreviations -- List of documents -- Bibliography -- General index

The Russian October Revolution, for the first time, placed power in the hands of the working class and changed the course of world history.A succinct first-hand account, this text was written to answer the distortions of bourgeois apologists and reformists, and arm the revolutionary workers of Europe and elsewhere with a real understanding of these historic events. At this time, the Revolution was in a precarious position, threatened by the various imperialist powers. In fact, The History of the Russian Revolution to Brest-Litovsk was drafted by Trotsky between sessions of the Peace negotiations between representatives of the Soviet Government and those of the German High Command in December 1917 and January 1918.The Bolsheviks never held the view that socialism could be established in a backward semi-feudal country like Russia. Rather, the Russian Revolution was simply meant to be the opening shot of the world revolution. This masterly work was part of the Bolshevik leaders' appeal to workers internationally.In the centenary of the Revolution, Trotsky's first-class account is an excellent answer to the lies systematically spread by its enemies and should be given the widest possible readership.

The debate between Marxism and Anarchism is decades old. It is no accident that when the class struggle again boils to the surface this debate is revived. This collection of classic and contemporary writings will go a long way toward clarifying the Marxist perspective on Anarchist theory and practice, and the need for a revolutionary party. Its publication marks an important step forward in the theoretical arming of a new generation of class fighters in the US - in preparation for the momentous struggles ahead. This volume includes essays by Engels, Lenin, Trotsky and others on various topics related to anarchism, among them: - Marx vs Bakunin - Engels on Authority - Why Marxists Oppose Individual Terrorism - Direct Action - Anarcho-Syndicalism - Kronstadt - The Spanish Revolution

Leon Trotsky's 1905despite long being out of printhas remained the central point of reference for those looking to understand the rising of workers, peasants, and soldiers that nearly unseated the Tsar in 1905. Trotsky's elegant, beautifully written account draws on his experience as a key leader of the revolution.

Leon Trotsky was a key political figure of the twentieth century - a leader of the Russian Revolution, founder of the Red Army, author of books on literature, history, morality and politics.*BR**BR*Leon Trotsky: Writings in Exile contains some of his most insightful and penetrating works. Thrown out of Russia by Stalin, Trotsky settled in Mexico, and turned to the only weapon he had left - words. In these writings he defends the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, warns prophetically of fascism and analyses anti-colonial movements in the global south.*BR**BR*This collection gives a sense of the real Trotsky - passionate, humanist, Marxist.