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'''Permanent Revolution''' is a plan for the overthrow of capitalism throughout the world, as envisioned by Communist leader [[Leon Trotsky]] in the 1920s.

'''Permanent Revolution''' is a plan for the overthrow of capitalism throughout the world, as envisioned by Bolshevik leader [[Leon Trotsky]] in 1905.

Socialist theory from the days of Marx had stated that he socialist revolution would automatically happen some years after capitalism and the bourgeoisie had triumphed over feudalism. It would happen when the industrial proletariat, organized by the party, overthrows capitalism in advanced industrial states. Thee revolution, according to this theory, could not happen in undeveloped countries like Russia because they had not yet reached the proper stage of development.  

Marxist theory from the days of Karl Marx had stated that the socialist revolution would automatically happen some years after capitalism and the bourgeoisie had triumphed over feudalism. It would happen when the industrial proletariat, organized by the party, overthrows capitalism in advanced industrial states. Thee revolution, according to this theory, could not happen in undeveloped countries like Russia in 1905 because they had not yet reached the proper stage of development.  

Yet the Revolution did happen first in Russia, and Trotsky was there to explain what happened. He argued for an immediate seizure of power everywhere in order to telescope the bourgeois and socialist revolutions into one seamless sequence. That was "permanent revolution."

Yet the left hoped to start a revolution in Russia--it almost succeeded in 1905 and did succeed in 1917. Trotsky was there to adjust Marxist theory to real life. He argued for an immediate seizure of power everywhere in order to telescope the bourgeois and socialist revolutions into one seamless sequence. That was "permanent revolution."

Trotsky broke with [[Joseph Stalin]] in the 1920s and was expelled from Russia, but before he was murdered at Stalin's command in 1940 Trotsky preached "permanent revolution" as a rallying cry for the anti-capitalist far left.   

Trotsky broke with [[Joseph Stalin]] in the 1920s and was expelled from Russia, but before he was murdered at Stalin's command in 1940 Trotsky preached "permanent revolution" as a rallying cry for the anti-capitalist far left.