Trotsky, Trotskyism and the Transition to Socialism (Routledge Library Editions: Political Thought and Political Philosophy)

Beilharz, Peter

ISBN 10: 0367230623 / ISBN 13: 9780367230623

Published by Routledge (edition 1), 2021

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 0367230623-8-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Trotsky, Trotskyism and the Transition to Socialism (Routledge Library Editions: Political Thought and Political Philosophy)
• Publisher: Routledge (edition 1)
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0367230623
• ISBN 13: 9780367230623
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 1.
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

First published in 1987. Trotskyists have long dominated the revolutionary tradition on the Western left. Written from a critical socialist standpoint, this book provides an analysis of Trotskyism and argues that Trotskyism is increasingly irrelevant as a means of achieving socialism. It argues that, as the realisation grows that the revolutionary tradition and the authoritarianism which necessarily result from it are wrong, the importance of the problem of the transition to socialism increases. It argues that on this point Trotskyism is weak; that Trotskyism's proposals for socialist transition are largely rhetorical; and that its democratic impulse is weak. It supports this argument by showing that Trotsky’s philosophy of history, implicit in his writings, which the author characterises as evolutionary and necessitarian, coupled with a failure to grasp the moral basis of the socialist case, has a disabling effect on Trotsky's account of the transition to socialism and on his explanation of Stalinism. Moreover, it argues that Trotsky's intellectual and political heirs have been unable to escape from the contradictions inherent in his thought.

About the Author

Peter Beilharz