Evaluate Trotsky’s role as a key figure in the communist movement. Was he primarily a practical revolutionary or a naïve idealist?
Leon Trotsky made a significant contribution to the communist movement of the 20th century, in both theory and practice. He proved himself to be a practical revolutionary in most of the activities he undertook and in many of the policies he espoused. However, he was also politically inept, and his naïve and uncompromising idealism contributed to his downfall.
Trotsky’s skills as a leader were first demonstrated during the 1905 Revolution, when he become chairman of the St. Petersburg Soviet, and helped organise the working class.
He next came to prominence in 1917, when he joinedforces with Lenin to lead the November Revolution. Trotsky’s contribution was critical, for it was he who planned and took charge of the insurrection.Even Stalin praised his efforts at the time.
With the Bolsheviks in power, Trotsky was now given the task of negotiating a peace with Germany. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was galling to the Bolsheviks, since it required Russiato give up much of itsbest land. However, it did allowthe Bolsheviks to honour their promise of ending the war and distributing land to the peasants, thereby consolidating their power. The fact that Trotsky was willing to implement such a compromise, despite his own personal objections, is evidence that he was indeed apractical revolutionary.
Lenin now entrusted his lieutenantwith the task of defending the regime against the counter-revolutionary forces known as the Whites.As Commissar for War, Trotsky introduced conscription for all workers and peasants, and built the Red Army into a force of 5 million men. It was he who devised the strategy that would win the Civil War, he who put that strategy into effect.
By 1921, the conflict was at an end, but the ruthless methods employed by the Bolsheviks had alienated many soldiers, peasants and workers. In February of that year, the Kronstadt Garrison mutinied, demanding a return to democracy. Trotsky was forced to choose between his principles and loyalty to Lenin and the Party. He chose the latter, ordering the Red Army to crush the rebels and put an end to all opposition to Bolshevik rule. In so doing, he demonstrated his willingness to place practical considerations ahead of political ideals.
Trotsky was unsurpassed as an academic and an organiser, but he had few political skills. Hence, when Lenin died in 1924, he failed to consolidate his power. Trotsky could have destroyed Stalin by making Lenin’s Testament public, but idealism and naivety stayed his hand. Idealism, because he did not wish to split the Party at this difficult time. Naivety, because he underestimated the threat that Stalin posed. Instead, he debated his rival on matters of policy, politics and ideology, and was defeated on every front. As far as policy was concerned, Trotsky criticized NEP on the grounds that it was failing to produce the surplus necessary to finance industrialisation. Politically, he believed the Party was becoming dictatorial, with the bureaucracy and the secretariat having too much power. Ideologically, he argued that Russia could only develop if it fostered revolution in neighbouring states – a proposition known as Permanent Revolution.
Stalin denounced Trotsky on all three fronts, painting him as a naïve idealist who was unfit for high office. By 1925, the man who was once Lenin’s closest associate was forced from power, then from the USSR itself.
Hence, it can be seen that Trotsky was both a practical revolutionary and an idealist. He was also politically naïve, and it was this crucial flaw which led to his demise.