IDOM 51 ‘The Permanent Revolution’

This issue takes up one of the most important contributions to Marxism: the theory of the permanent revolution. The editorial takes up the question: ‘What is Trotskyism?’. Whilst this is often superficially identified with ‘anti-Stalinism’, we uncover the real essence of ‘Trotskyism’: an uncompromising defence of the real method of Marxism.

Next, Joe Attard gives an explanation of the theory of the permanent revolution, and how Trotsky developed his ideas in conjunction with the events of the 1905 Revolution. It is an excellent example of the dialectical interaction between individuals, ideas, and events.

We are supplementing this with an excerpt from Trotsky’s book The Permanent Revolution, which concisely summarises the key elements of the theory. Trotsky wrote this book in the aftermath of the defeat of the 1925-27 Chinese Revolution, partly to aid communists in China in overcoming the barriers imposed on them by the Stalinised Communist International.

The next article, by Kenny Wallace, takes up this issue in detail, with a history of Chinese Trotskyism. The question of the permanent revolution was at the heart of conflicts between the young forces of the Chinese Communist Party, and the leadership of the Communist International in the 1920s. After Trotsky’s death, a mechanical application of the ideas would blind the Chinese Trotskyists to reality, when faced with the imminent victory of Mao. Despite persevering through incredible hardships, their struggle highlights the importance of fully absorbing the correct, dialectical, method of Marxism.

As an example of this method, we have also republished an excerpt of an article by Ted Grant written in January 1949: ‘Stalinist land programme wins peasants, Chiang’s conscripts roped to prevent escape’. In it, Ted laid out in advance the processes which would lead to the overthrow of capitalism in China.

Finally, we are pleased to republish a review by Alan Woods of Leonardo Padura’s historical novel, ‘The Man Who Loved Dogs’. The book colorfully brings to life the struggle of Trotsky to preserve the ideas of genuine Marxism in his lifetime; as well as the frustrations of a generation of Cubans who lived through the bitter consequences of the collapse of Stalinism in the 1990s.