By: Anonymous

Anonymous
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:14 +0000

Question: Why does everyone hate the Trotskyists so much?
Over time, I have tended to notice an extreme antipathy on the radical left towards anyone who expresses any opinion of Trotsky that is not universally negative. People seem to get more angry about Trotskyists than crusty Stalinists turning up to demonstrations. Why is this? as with everything, there are problems with Trotskyism of all sorts, and I would be the first to admit it (myself, I'm a libertarian-democratic socialist who takes analysis and practice from all across the socialist/anarchist spectrum). But I mean, c'mon, they're not reformists- they're not nationalists- they are in favour of working class self emancipation and self management- for the social revolution- for an international solution-anti-fascist fighters- most are not stupid enough (excluding the wacko Sparts) to worship Trotsky like a god, put him beyond criticism, or to run around like fools still trying to justify Kronsdadt- they've broadened themselves, and even been willing to dissolve themselves to form part of a unified group or alliance (such as the French New Anticapitalist Party). And they've put up some downright heroic resistance to horrific forces across the world- probably the most brave and one of the most powerful were the Vietnamese Trotskyists- who managed to oppose colonialism, capitalism, and Stalinism at the same time, while fighting for a revolutionary democratic socialist alternative- and were eventually crushed by all three forces. This is well documented in the book by Ngo Van, called: Revolutionaries They Could Not Break- the fight for the fourth international in Indochina 1930-1945. Read that and still talk about them as if they were just the same as Stalinists (which so many 'holier than thou' radicals seem to think of them)- the Stalinists were actually quite convinced they were Trotskyite fascists. Or that they are authoritarian utopians, as the insipid liberals choose to describe them. At least show these brave comrades some respect for their struggle.