Write on the following in about 150 words each : "Revolution in Permanence"

Core Tenets of Permanent Revolution

The theory rests on several key premises:

• Weak Bourgeoisie: Trotsky observed that the Russian bourgeoisie was heavily reliant on foreign capital and politically subservient to the landed aristocracy, rendering it incapable of leading a genuine democratic revolution.
• Proletariat as Revolutionary Class: He posited that the proletariat, due to its inherent class consciousness and organizational capacity, was the only class capable of leading a revolutionary transformation.
• Democratic Tasks & Socialist Revolution: Unlike orthodox Marxists who advocated for a stage-wise revolution (bourgeois first, then socialist), Trotsky argued that the proletariat would simultaneously address democratic tasks (land reform, national self-determination) and begin the transition to socialism.
• Internationalism: The revolution, once started, wouldn't be confined to a single country. It would need to spread internationally to survive and complete its socialist objectives. This international character is what makes the revolution “permanent.”

Historical Context & 1917 Revolution

The 1905 Revolution served as a testing ground for Trotsky’s ideas. He played a leading role in the St. Petersburg Soviet, demonstrating the potential of worker-led councils. The February Revolution of 1917 saw the overthrow of the Tsarist regime, but the Provisional Government failed to address the pressing issues of land and peace. Trotsky argued that power should be transferred to the Soviets. The Bolshevik seizure of power in October 1917, while initially appearing to validate Trotsky’s theory, was later interpreted by Stalin as a confirmation of the “socialism in one country” doctrine.

Divergence from Orthodox Marxism

Traditional Marxist theory, as articulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, emphasized a historical progression of modes of production – feudalism to capitalism to socialism. This implied that a country needed to fully develop its capitalist forces before being ready for a socialist revolution. Trotsky challenged this deterministic view, arguing that uneven development and the specific conditions in countries like Russia allowed for a shortcut to socialism. He believed that waiting for full capitalist development would only perpetuate exploitation and oppression.

Criticisms and Stalinism

The theory of Permanent Revolution faced criticism from both the right and the left. Orthodox Marxists accused Trotsky of utopianism and neglecting the material conditions necessary for socialism. Stalin, after consolidating power, denounced the theory as “deviationism” and promoted the doctrine of “socialism in one country,” prioritizing the consolidation of socialism within the Soviet Union rather than focusing on international revolution. Trotsky was exiled and eventually assassinated in 1940, effectively silencing the voice of Permanent Revolution within the Soviet system.