Trotsky

To win, the labour movement still needs the ideas of Leon Trotsky

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica argues for the relevance of Trotsky’s notion of the united front in a review of John Kelly’s book Contemporary Trotskyism: Parties, Sects and Social Movements in Britain
Frida Kahlo: artist and revolutionary

Frida Kahlo was a revolutionary and a politically-committed artist whose art condemned the society she revolted against argues Judy Cox
Trotsky on Lenin - book review

A welcome new edition of neglected writing by Trotsky makes accessible revealing insights into Lenin and Russian society, finds Dominic Alexander
Fighting fascism in the 1930s: Trotsky and the United Front - video

The strategy of the united front was central to Trotsky's politics and has been used many times since to fight fascism. Katherine Connelly discusses the history, what we can learn from it, and what it means for politics today.
We carried the Revolution on our shoulders - book extract

In this second book extract of The Women's Revolution: Russia 1905-1917, Judy Cox describes the involvement and militancy of women during the October Revolution and the Civil War.
The Women's Revolution - book extract

In this first of two extracts of The Women's Revolution: Russia 1905-1917, Judy Cox describes how the unnamed, uncredited women of Russia were at the forefront of the February Revolution in 1917
October 1917: Workers in Power

The collection of essays in October 1917show the Revolution as animated by ‘the irrepressible aspiration of humanity to freedom’, finds Judy Cox
The Dictator, the Revolution, the Machine: A Political Account of Joseph Stalin

Tony McKenna’s compelling Marxist biography of Stalin disproves the allegation that October 1917 led directly to the dictator’s atrocities, argues Sean Ledwith
Why has the Royal Academy airbrushed Trotsky out of history?

The exhibition, celebrating Russian art from the revolutionary period, is missing a huge part of the story, argues Judy Cox
To the Masses: Proceedings of the Third Congress of the Communist International, 1921

The sharp and dramatic debates during the Third Congress of the Comintern contain lessons on strategy and tactics of crucial relevance today, argues Chris Bambery
Russia's road to revolution

The revolutionary events of 1905 profoundly affected the revolutionary parties themselves, argues Sean Ledwith
Must revolution always mean catastrophe?

Neither Cromwell, nor Robespierre, nor Lenin, could become an icon or avatar for the reactionary regimes they helped to overthrow, but Stalin was different argues Bill Bowring
'A marvellous adventure' - John Reed‘s Ten Days that Shook the World

John Reed’s remarkable eyewitness account of the Russian Revolution is introduced by Judy Cox
Trotsky's introduction to the Russian Revolution

Trotsky's introduction to his history of the Russian Revolution gives us an insight into how unexpected the revolution was
Revolution - Russia 1917: One Hundred Years On - event

On 25 February, Counterfire is hosting an event celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, taking a closer look at the key questions of the period
Debating revolution today: Leon Trotsky in the 21st century

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica looks at the legacy of Trotsky and ‘Trotskyism’ today. This is an adapted version of a speech given at Counterfire conference which took place on 3^rd and 4^th December 2016.
The October Revolution

As the centennial of the Russian Revolution approaches, Vladimir Unkovski-Korica looks at the events of the October Revolution
Ken Loach talks Daniel Blake, Jeremy Corbyn and Leon Trotsky

The award-winning film director talks about his latest film, his political influences, and the challenges now facing the left in a wide ranging interview with John Rees
Tom and the Trotsky twist

Tom Watson is scaremongering about Trotskyists, but he may have bitten off more than he can chew, says John Rees
Trotsky on 'gradualness' - key texts

Trotsky's polemic against gradualness shows Britain's history has been shaped by conflict and revolution. This 'key text' is introduced by Alex Snowdon
Combining audacity and realism: Trotsky on organising

Chris Nineham reviews Leon Trotsky and the Organizational Principles of the Revolutionary Party
Trotsky on the United Front - key texts

Trotsky's brilliant polemic on the united front, introduced by Vladimir Unkovski-Korica in our 'key texts' series
The steam and the piston box: is autonomism an alternative?

Sean Ledwith looks at the origins and the limitations of autonomism
Revolution in a day: an introduction to the theory and practice of radical change | London 18 April

A radical day school providing an essential introduction to the theory and practice of radical change
Leon Trotsky: A Revolutionary’s Life

Trotsky’s eventful life is a natural story for biographers, but the key thing is to engage with his real politics rather than textbook caricature, argues Peter Stauber
Trotsky: Writings in Exile

Alex Snowdon recommends a collection of Trotsky’s that gives access to some of the best Marxist writing on a wide range of subjects
Winning the argument for revolution: Trotsky and the Transitional Programme

Chris Bambery discusses Trotsky's attempts to use transitional demands to relate socialist ideas to the real world
Trotsky’s ‘French Turn’: Lessons from crisis and radicalisation in Europe’s past

How should revolutionaries relate to the new Left rising up across Europe? Chris Bambery argues lessons can be learned from the approach Leon Trotsky took to this question in the mid-1930s
Socialism from below: Trotsky's revolutionary life

Leon Trotsky died on 21 August 1940, killed by a Stalinist agent. In 1917 he had been second only to Lenin as a leading figure in the Russian revolutionary movement. In October 1917 he was the main organiser of the insurrection which enabled the Russian working class to overthrow the state.

Trotsky was tremendously talented and had many strengths. He wrote, with outstanding perception, across a wide range of topics; he was a powerful orator, important marxist theoretician and immensely capable political organiser. Trotsky also demonstrated great personal commitment and courage in his continued defiance of Stalin, suffering expulsion from his party, exile from his country and the killings of several of his family before finally being assassinated himself.

He adhered to his revolutionary socialist ideas and principles to the end, despite being personally persecuted and politically marginalised, and dedicated himself to keeping alive the authentic tradition of socialism from below and internationalism. He was helped in this by his gift for brilliant clarity of political analysis, and also his fidelity to the ideas which had guided him and his fellow revolutionaries in more favourable times.

Read the rest of my brief introduction to Trotsky (plus an excellent chapter, on the insurrection of October 1917, from his 'Lessons of October') HERE.

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Trotsky: The Lessons of October | 70th Anniversary

On the 70th anniversary of the death of Leon Trotsky, a leading figure in the 1917 Russian revolution, Alex Snowdon introduces a key chapter from the radical book "The Lessons of October".
Leon Trotsky on the United Front - 1922

Text of a speech delivered by Trotsky to French Communists during the debates in the Communist International on the question of the united front.
Duncan Hallas: The Comintern and the united front

Writing in 1975, revolutionary socialist Duncan Hallas stressed the need for what is often called the united front method.
Sadism, Nazis and Swedish Trotskyism

What connects these three things? The answer is Stieg Larsson's novel 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. The film version opens in UK cinemas this Friday.

Trotsky

Trotsky

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica argues for the relevance of Trotsky’s notion of the united front in a review of John Kelly’s book Contemporary Trotskyism: Parties, Sects and Social Movements in Britain

Frida Kahlo was a revolutionary and a politically-committed artist whose art condemned the society she revolted against argues Judy Cox

A welcome new edition of neglected writing by Trotsky makes accessible revealing insights into Lenin and Russian society, finds Dominic Alexander

The strategy of the united front was central to Trotsky's politics and has been used many times since to fight fascism. Katherine Connelly discusses the history, what we can learn from it, and what it means for politics today.

In this second book extract of The Women's Revolution: Russia 1905-1917, Judy Cox describes the involvement and militancy of women during the October Revolution and the Civil War.

In this first of two extracts of The Women's Revolution: Russia 1905-1917, Judy Cox describes how the unnamed, uncredited women of Russia were at the forefront of the February Revolution in 1917

The collection of essays in October 1917show the Revolution as animated by ‘the irrepressible aspiration of humanity to freedom’, finds Judy Cox

Tony McKenna’s compelling Marxist biography of Stalin disproves the allegation that October 1917 led directly to the dictator’s atrocities, argues Sean Ledwith

The exhibition, celebrating Russian art from the revolutionary period, is missing a huge part of the story, argues Judy Cox

The sharp and dramatic debates during the Third Congress of the Comintern contain lessons on strategy and tactics of crucial relevance today, argues Chris Bambery

The revolutionary events of 1905 profoundly affected the revolutionary parties themselves, argues Sean Ledwith

Neither Cromwell, nor Robespierre, nor Lenin, could become an icon or avatar for the reactionary regimes they helped to overthrow, but Stalin was different argues Bill Bowring

John Reed’s remarkable eyewitness account of the Russian Revolution is introduced by Judy Cox

Trotsky's introduction to his history of the Russian Revolution gives us an insight into how unexpected the revolution was

On 25 February, Counterfire is hosting an event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, taking a closer look at the key questions of the period

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica looks at the legacy of Trotsky and ‘Trotskyism’ today. This is an adapted version of a speech given at Counterfire conference which took place on 3rd and 4th December 2016.

As the centennial of the Russian Revolution approaches, Vladimir Unkovski-Korica looks at the events of the October Revolution

The award-winning film director talks about his latest film, his political influences, and the challenges now facing the left in a wide ranging interview with John Rees

Tom Watson is scaremongering about Trotskyists, but he may have bitten off more than he can chew, says John Rees

Trotsky's polemic against gradualness shows Britain's history has been shaped by conflict and revolution. This 'key text' is introduced by Alex Snowdon

Chris Nineham reviews Leon Trotsky and the Organizational Principles of the Revolutionary Party

Trotsky's brilliant polemic on the united front, introduced by Vladimir Unkovski-Korica in our 'key texts' series

Sean Ledwith looks at the origins and the limitations of autonomism

A radical day school providing an essential introduction to the theory and practice of radical change

Trotsky’s eventful life is a natural story for biographers, but the key thing is to engage with his real politics rather than textbook caricature, argues Peter Stauber

Alex Snowdon recommends a collection of Trotsky’s that gives access to some of the best Marxist writing on a wide range of subjects

Chris Bambery discusses Trotsky's attempts to use transitional demands to relate socialist ideas to the real world

How should revolutionaries relate to the new Left rising up across Europe? Chris Bambery argues lessons can be learned from the approach Leon Trotsky took to this question in the mid-1930s

On the 70th anniversary of the death of Leon Trotsky, a leading figure in the 1917 Russian revolution, Alex Snowdon introduces a key chapter from the radical book "The Lessons of October".

Text of a speech delivered by Trotsky to French Communists during the debates in the Communist International on the question of the united front.

Writing in 1975, revolutionary socialist Duncan Hallas stressed the need for what is often called the united front method.

What connects these three things? The answer is Stieg Larsson's novel 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. The film version opens in UK cinemas this Friday.

On 25 February, Counterfire is hosting an event celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, taking a closer look at the key questions of the period

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica looks at the legacy of Trotsky and ‘Trotskyism’ today. This is an adapted version of a speech given at Counterfire conference which took place on 3^rd and 4^th December 2016.