Trotskyism and the Dilemma of Socialism

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Written by two long-time scholar/activists, this book is a detailed history of the Trotskyist movement set against the background of the Russian Revolution and the evolution of Soviet society. As the first comprehensive study of the subject in English, Trotskyism and the Dilemma of Socialism traces the ideas and activities of the Trotskyist movement over six decades and five continents. The history is paced within the context of the attempts by Trotsky and the movement to understand the nature of the evolving Soviet society, as in Trotsky's theory of the degenerated workers' state. Particularly valuable is the authors' in-depth analysis of the Soviet economy.

Reviews

"A valuable challenging and critical study of Trotskyism. Hobson and Tabor's positions and arguments will have to be addressed by people on the Left who are interested in building a democratic, libertarian and revolutionary socialist movement." Samuel Farber, Member of the Editorial Board of Against the Current "An extremely important book, thoughtfully written, without demagoguery. The authors have succeeded in making their historical analysis relevant to today. Given the intensity of the struggle over the future of Soviet society now taking place in the U.S.S.R., to give a thorough critique of one of the alternatives (Trotskyism) is as important as showing a positive direction for change. This book does both."-Alexander Amerisov, Editor, Soviet-American Review
"An extremely important book, thoughtfully written, without demagoguery. The authors have succeeded in making their historical analysis relevant to today. Given the intensity of the struggle over the future of Soviet society now taking place in the U.S.S.R., to give a thorough critique of one of the alternatives (Trotskyism) is as important as showing a posititve direction for change. This book does both."-Alexander Amerisov, Editor, Soviet-American Review
"This impressive and original book by two activist scholars gives a thorough account of the Trotskyist movement and the broader context of its activities in the United States, Europe, and Latin America since the 1920s. It is written with an insider's flair for bringing issues to life. Tabor and Hobson reexamine the history of the left, not from a neoconservative standpoint but from a radical point of view. Their book offers reassertion of freedom as the goal of socialism, as against a socialism which is statist and repressive. This acute analysis should have a strong and useful impact on the American Left, requiring a reconsideration of some fundamental beliefs. Those beliefs rooted in myths about non-American socialism will have to be reconsidered in the light of their demolition by this work."-Professor Jesse Lemisch John Jay College City University, New York
A valuable challenging and critical study of Trotskyism. Hobson and Tabor's positions and arguments will have to be addressed by people on the Left who are interested in building a democratic, libertarian and revolutionary socialist movement." Samuel Farber, Member of the Editorial Board of Against the Current "An extremely important book, thoughtfully written, without demagoguery. The authors have succeeded in making their historical analysis relevant to today. Given the intensity of the struggle over the future of Soviet society now taking place in the U.S.S.R., to give a thorough critique of one of the alternatives (Trotskyism) is as important as showing a positive direction for change. This book does both.-Alexander Amerisov, Editor, Soviet-American Review
If one is primarily interested in Trotskyism as a variant of Marxist political theory and ideology, Baruch Knei-Paz's The Social and Political Thought of Leon Trotsky remains the best study. Hobson and Tabor's volume does not focus on Trotsky the man or even on Trotsky's ideas, but rather on Trotskyism as a movement during and after the founder's lifetime. The authors, having been associated with this movement, present a detailed acount of its history, of the international array of its personalities, and of the underlying theoretical and practical reasons for innumerabe political swings of, and splits within, the relatively very small group of its devoted activists. In historical terms all of this may not be very important, but from an intellectual point of view it is interesting because the heroes, and some of the villains, as well as the authors of this book, are obviously bright and well-read people who know how to debate and when to trot out an opportune quotation. Nonspecialists may find of real interest only the first eight (out of 13) chapters-the discussion of what and why Russian socialism went astray sometime between 1928 and 1940. These problems are very pertinent to the present debate in the Soviet Union and have implications for socialism and Marxism everywhere. Recommended for upper-level undergraduate students. Extensive bibliography; good index.-Choice
This book is one of the final products of the Schachtmanite Revolutionary Socialist League, published just prior to its decision to submerge itself into the anarchist movement. As such, it can legitimately be read with an eye towards judging just how thorough was this sect's conversion to anarchist thought.-Libertarian Labor Review
"This book is one of the final products of the Schachtmanite Revolutionary Socialist League, published just prior to its decision to submerge itself into the anarchist movement. As such, it can legitimately be read with an eye towards judging just how thorough was this sect's conversion to anarchist thought."-Libertarian Labor Review
"If one is primarily interested in Trotskyism as a variant of Marxist political theory and ideology, Baruch Knei-Paz's The Social and Political Thought of Leon Trotsky remains the best study. Hobson and Tabor's volume does not focus on Trotsky the man or even on Trotsky's ideas, but rather on Trotskyism as a movement during and after the founder's lifetime. The authors, having been associated with this movement, present a detailed acount of its history, of the international array of its personalities, and of the underlying theoretical and practical reasons for innumerabe political swings of, and splits within, the relatively very small group of its devoted activists. In historical terms all of this may not be very important, but from an intellectual point of view it is interesting because the heroes, and some of the villains, as well as the authors of this book, are obviously bright and well-read people who know how to debate and when to trot out an opportune quotation. Nonspecialists may find of real interest only the first eight (out of 13) chapters-the discussion of what and why Russian socialism went astray sometime between 1928 and 1940. These problems are very pertinent to the present debate in the Soviet Union and have implications for socialism and Marxism everywhere. Recommended for upper-level undergraduate students. Extensive bibliography; good index."-Choice

Author Bio

CHRISTOPHER Z. HOBSON has been active in the left and socialist movements for over twenty-five years. He has written extensively in the socialist press and, since 1974, has been active in the Revolutionary Socialist League. RONALD D. TABOR is an editor of the socialist newspaper the Torch/La Antorcha and the author of numerous pamphlets on socialist thought.