Question by Jim: How significant was Leon Trotsky within the Social Democratic movement in Russia, 1907-1914?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Spellbound
Trotsky was very significant. He was an arrogant, charismatic and intellectually gifted writer and orator. When he turned up, as an unknown exile, in Geneva he soon ingratiated himself with and infuriated the leadership of the movement. Plekhanov was wary of his arrogance, Lenin was wary of his intellectual prowess, and both vied for his support in debates and arguments between themselves and their factions.
The farm-boy from southern Russia was soon embroiled in the debate over who should edit the party newspaper – Iskra, and, despite not gaining the post himself, was a regular contributor. He also contributed articles to other, foreign, marxist newspapers and pamphlets.
His importance to the Russian Social and Democratic Labour Party was that he offered a middle ground between the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks. He was, therefore, able to forge alliance between himself and both sides of the split, and to be critical of each of them. This was to cost him dear, as his alliances with the Mensheviks were never forgotten by the Bolsheviks.
He was also significant because he was chairman of the Soviet of Workers’ Deputies (a fore-runner of the Petrograd Soviet) in 1905 during the Revolution, his position enabled both Mensheviks and Bolsheviks to work together. Again something that would become critical in 1917.
See:
Trotsky – A Biography by Robert Service
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/trotsky_leon.shtml
http://www.trotsky.net/
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