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'''Trotskyism''' is an extreme left-wing political ideology which originated in the split in the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] in the 1920s between supporters of [[Stalin]] and supporters of [[Leon Trotsky]]. Although personal animosity between Trotsky and Stalin was a major factor in the split, it came to be seen as centred on the incompatibility of views regarding the 'Revolution'. Trotsky believed that although the 'working class' had seized power in Russia, true [[socialism]] could not be established unless there was a global revolution. The Stalinists denied this, and held that they could create a socialist society in the [[USSR]]: the so-called 'Socialism in One Country' strategy. A wilier political operator than his opponent, Stalin was able to edge Trotsky and his supporters out of political power in the Soviet Union, and, by achieving domination of the [[Third International]] (the [[Comintern]]), was able to impose anti-Trotskist views on the worldwide Communist movement. Trotsky was exiled from the USSR in 1929, and murdered by Stalinist agents in [[Mexico]] in 1940.

'''Trotskyism''' is an extreme left-wing political ideology which originated in the split in the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] in the 1920s between supporters of [[Stalin]] and supporters of [[Leon Trotsky]]. Although personal animosity between Trotsky and Stalin was a major factor in the split, it came to be seen as centered on the incompatibility of views regarding the 'Revolution'. Trotsky believed that although the 'working class' had seized power in Russia, true [[socialism]] could not be established unless there was a global revolution. The Stalinists denied this, and held that they could create a socialist society in the [[USSR]]: the so-called 'Socialism in One Country' strategy. A wilier political operator than his opponent, Stalin was able to edge Trotsky and his supporters out of political power in the Soviet Union, and, by achieving domination of the [[Third International]] (the [[Comintern]]), was able to impose anti-Trotskist views on the worldwide Communist movement. Trotsky was exiled from the USSR in 1929, and murdered by Stalinist agents in [[Mexico]] in 1940.

[[Image:Trotsky - Rivera - Breton.jpg|thumb|270px|Leon Trotsky, Diego Rivera, and André Breton.]]

[[Image:Trotsky - Rivera - Breton.jpg|thumb|270px|Leon Trotsky, Diego Rivera, and André Breton.]]

Trotsky initially sought to recapture communist parties around the world from Stalinist influence, but inevitably small dissident groups, expelled from 'mainstream' communist parties, began to form independent organisations, often practicing [[Entryism|entrism]] in non-communist left-wing parties in an attempt to take them over. In 1938 Trotsky formed the [[Fourth International]], an umbrella body for Trotskyist national groups which sought to provide a global leadership.

Trotsky initially sought to recapture communist parties around the world from Stalinist influence, but inevitably small dissident groups, expelled from 'mainstream' communist parties, began to form independent organizations, often practicing [[Entryism|entrism]] in non-communist left-wing parties in an attempt to take them over. In 1938 Trotsky formed the [[Fourth International]], an umbrella body for Trotskyist national groups which sought to provide a global leadership.

However, Trotskyist groups have almost always been very much a fringe element in the politics of the countries where they were active. The sole exception is [[Sri Lanka]], where a Trotskyist party called the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) formed part of a [[coalition]] government from 1964 to 1975.  

However, Trotskyist groups have almost always been very much a fringe element in the politics of the countries where they were active. The sole exception is [[Sri Lanka]], where a Trotskyist party called the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) formed part of a [[coalition]] government from 1964 to 1975.  

*The belief that the USSR was a 'deformed workers' state ''versus'' the belief that the USSR was 'state capitalist'

*The belief that the USSR was a 'deformed workers' state ''versus'' the belief that the USSR was 'state capitalist'

This section should not neglect personal animosities, which prompted the 1938 split in the British 'Revolutionary Socialist League', triggered by rumours that one member had embezzled the funds of a South African Trotskyist group, and the ceaseless conflicts prompted by the thuggish figure of [[Gerry Healy]], a long-time British Trotskyist leader, and others of his kind. Nor should the stands taken by opposing sides in these conflicts be seen as immutable. Again to use a British example, in the late 1940s [[Ted Short]], a leader of the British [[Revolutionary Communist Party]], was in favour of the RCP remaining an 'open' party, while [[Gerry Healy]] sought to take the RCP into the [[Labour Party]] as a secret Trotskyist faction. By the 1970s, Short was leading the entrist [[Militant Tendency]] within the Labour Party, while Healy was the leader of the 'open' Workers' Revolutionary Party.

This section should not neglect personal animosities, which prompted the 1938 split in the British 'Revolutionary Socialist League', triggered by rumors that one member had embezzled the funds of a South African Trotskyist group, and the ceaseless conflicts prompted by the thuggish figure of [[Gerry Healy]], a long-time British Trotskyist leader, and others of his kind. Nor should the stands taken by opposing sides in these conflicts be seen as immutable. Again to use a British example, in the late 1940s [[Ted Short]], a leader of the British [[Revolutionary Communist Party]], was in favor of the RCP remaining an 'open' party, while [[Gerry Healy]] sought to take the RCP into the [[Labour Party]] as a secret Trotskyist faction. By the 1970s, Short was leading the entrist [[Militant Tendency]] within the Labour Party, while Healy was the leader of the 'open' Workers' Revolutionary Party.

==Links to conservatism==

==Links to conservatism==

A number of Americans who had briefly been Trotsyites as youth rejected the left and became intellectual leaders of conservatism. They include [[James Burnham]] (1905–1987), [[Saul Bellow]] (1915-2005), [[Irving Kristol]] (b. 1920), [[Gertrude Himmelfarb]] (b. 1922), and [[Seymour Martin Lipset]] (1922-2006).  However it is not true that they dominated the [[neoconservative]] movement.

A number of Americans who had briefly been Trotskyites as youth rejected the left and became intellectual leaders of conservatism. They include [[James Burnham]] (1905–1987), [[Saul Bellow]] (1915-2005), [[Irving Kristol]] (b. 1920), [[Gertrude Himmelfarb]] (b. 1922), and [[Seymour Martin Lipset]] (1922-2006).  However it is not true that they dominated the [[neoconservative]] movement.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

*  Alexander, Robert J. ed. ''International Trotskyism, 1929-1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement.'' (1991) 1128 pp covering activities in every country [http://www.questia.com/read/27804413?title=International%20Trotskyism%2c%201929-1985%3a%20A%20Documented%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Movement online edition]

*  Alexander, Robert J. ed. ''International Trotskyism, 1929-1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement.'' (1991) 1128 pp covering activities in every country [http://www.questia.com/read/27804413?title=International%20Trotskyism%2c%201929-1985%3a%20A%20Documented%20Analysis%20of%20the%20Movement online edition]