Trotskyism and its Helpers (Study Guide)

[TheGodlessUtopian]

The following study guide is for Josip Broz Tito (http://www.marxists.org/archive/tito/index.htm)’s work “Trotskyism and its Helpers (http://www.marxists.org/archive/tito/1939/x01/x01.htm)”. I have compiled the questions, as well as the answers, myself. If comrades see any mistakes within the texts please comment below. As always this study guide is for public use.



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Q1: What is the goal of Trotskyism regardless of what shape it takes?

A1: Simply said the goal of Trotskyism is to “clear the road for the fascist-imperialist bandits” by attacking Marxist-Leninist organizations.

Q2: Name some of the historical instances where Trotskyists subverted the socialist anti-imperialist efforts.

A2:

1. China: Trotskyists assist Japanese invaders by donning clothes of the 8th Popular army in order to kill army commanders and loot the peasantry before handing plans over to the invaders.

2. Spain: Trotskyists implanted themselves within the Republicans People Army and caused riots to disrupt the fighting spirit whenever Franco’s forces were in a bind.

3. Czechoslovakia: Trotskyists oppose defending Belgrade opting instead for its peaceful defense thereby handing the city over to fascist conquerors.

4. Yugoslavia: Trotskyists spend time engaging in “Espionage, diversions, provocations, murders, sabotages, denunciations” so as to weaken the revolutionary movement.

Q3: In what way do the Trotskyists camouflage themselves?

A3: By spinning revolutionary phrases about the struggle the Trotskyists mask their inter-party subversion. They follow party line, when within Marxist-Leninist groupings, only to further their destructive activities thus giving legitimacy to their undermining.

Q4: How do the Trotskyists use their camouflage as party members in order to show discord among the populace?

A4: Tito highlights this by giving a lucid example, “…the Trotskyists conduct diverse provocations on the Communists’ account. They put shit on icons and churches… and spread [rumors] among people that it is a Party directive.” Such actions weakens the Mass-Party’s connection with the people through alienation and such is precisely the result Trotskyists wish to impose.

Q5: Tito believes that it is necessary to remember one vital fact before combating Trotskyism, what is this fact?

A5: To quote Tito at length this fact is:

“[Comrades] claiming that the struggle against Trotskyism in reality is ideological struggle between two currents in the workers movement, should be rejected. Today, Trotskyism isn’t an ideological current anymore; it is gang of spies, saboteurs and murderers, it is a form of Fascism, its avant-garde; instrument of the war provocateurs, the enemies of democracy, freedom and human progress. There is no struggle against Fascism without struggle against its Trotskyist form.”

Such is a potent reminder of the illegitimacy that calls itself Trotskyism, a force to be opposed.

Q6: Before the struggle against Trotskyism can take place what must happen ideologically?

A6: Tito says that theoretical mastery must be attained by the party members that “It is necessary to inform the membership, sympathizers and all the friends of freedom, democracy and progress about the real essence of Trotskyism.” And that “Every member of the Party should develop a Bolshevik alertness not only in the Party, but everywhere they operate: in trade unions, in various cultural and sport organizations, and should unmask the Trotskyist agents and provocateurs before workers and the other democratic strata of people.” Such is to be done in conjunction with patient education of those ignorant and ill-informed persons who fell under the sway of the Trotskyists.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

As a remainder this piece is a study guide and nothing more. If I see any tendency infighting the users will be disciplined properly by having such posts trashed.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Is this work generally seen as theoretically of a high level? I've never read it, but I wasn't aware that Tito was thought of favourably in theoretical terms.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Socialist Action is a Trotskyist organisation.Tito's attitude towards Trotskyism can be interesting, as was Hoxha's, but it might be more productive to put this in a historical context.

Interestingly the Fourth International influenced by Ernst Mandel, got egg on its face by appealing to Tito as an "unconscious Trotskyist". Tito, defending his bureaucratic class, felt the need to slam Trotskyism.

edit I see it was written in 1939.

Its not uninteresting, but why a study guide for this particular document?

[Mass Grave Aesthetics]

Its not uninteresting, but why a study guide for this particular document?

Hoxha´s Eurocommunism is anti- communism is far more interesting.

[Ismail]

Hoxha´s Eurocommunism is anti- communism is far more interesting.Yes, considering that it actually discusses what Marxists should do in regards to trade unions and so on. All Tito's piece is, is a more or less mandatory work attacking Trotskyism that you can find from any communist living during that period. You could find similar stuff written by Togliatti, Khrushchev, etc. which are equally uninteresting.

[Igor]

i love that you have put pan-leftism as your tendency

[Jimmie Higgins]

i love that you have put pan-leftism as your tendencyThe comrade isn't arguing these things - IMO it's just too "flame-war" for a study guide or to discuss as a reading.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Had many of you been paying attention to my efforts you would know that I have been going through the works of many different leftists making study guides for their works. As this project is all encompassing there will be guides for important and non-important alike. The reason I chose this particular guide was because of the Tito pieces online it was the shortest and hence the most suitable to a quick introduction of his style.

It may be of interest to comrades that I am only a member of Trotskyist organizations (both the YSA and REVO are Trotskyist dominated).I make this guide simply as a cog within the vast literary machine. Comrades can take this at face value, as its the truth, or they can fuss about something that doesn't exist.Either way, I am always looking for more helpers to help with various texts from all kinds of tendencies so if you want to see guides to pieces which you enjoy join the group (link in my sig) today.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Posts containing flame attacks and trolling have been deleted. This constitutes a verbals warning to the members involved.

[Hit The North]

Posts containing flame attacks and trolling have been deleted. This constitutes a verbals warning to the members involved.

This thread is one giant flame so you can stick your verbal warning up your arse.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

This thread is one giant flame so you can stick your verbal warning up your arse.

Enjoy your infraction.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I deleted your troll post "Fuck the Clock." It was nothing but rabble rousing and flame baiting. I am not sure why you have such an adverse reaction to differing leftist views but I implore you to cease in your flaming and trolling.The next off-topic, non-constructive post I see from you in this thread is an infraction.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Is this thread achieving the desired aim?

I'm not sure that Tito is really worth it, I must say. I'm not saying that as an ad hominem attack at all - I have no preference when it comes to historically obsolete figures of Communism - but the level of the work presented in the OP seems typical of the 'TROTSKY WAS A FASCIST SPY TRYING TO BRING FASCISM TO ALL THE WORLD IN SECRET'-type crap that was typical among Marxist-Leninists of the time.

I'm just not sure what learning value there is here. Can we perhaps just put this one down to experience, delete the thread and perhaps choose more wisely in future, which figures/works to put in study guides? I'm not sure a Josep Tito work on Trotskyism is really a good study guide for learners and beginners.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Is this thread achieving the desired aim?

I'm not sure that Tito is really worth it, I must say. I'm not saying that as an ad hominem attack at all - I have no preference when it comes to historically obsolete figures of Communism - but the level of the work presented in the OP seems typical of the 'TROTSKY WAS A FASCIST SPY TRYING TO BRING FASCISM TO ALL THE WORLD IN SECRET'-type crap that was typical among Marxist-Leninists of the time.

I'm just not sure what learning value there is here. Can we perhaps just put this one down to experience, delete the thread and perhaps choose more wisely in future, which figures/works to put in study guides? I'm not sure a Josep Tito work on Trotskyism is really a good study guide for learners and beginners.

Assuming the study guide project took the desired course tendency warriors from each sect would contribute. However, since such didn't happen I am in the position of doing each tendency myself (I see the mountains of texts already). Since I often get sick of doing too much of a single writer I often bounce around ideologies and drift. Before I start on a new author, however, I generally find a piece form them which is short and that has some level of theoretical content.This piece serves as an introduction to their writing style.

From here I make the guide and it serves as my launching pad.If you go back to the other guides I have done you will see a similar pattern.

I agree that there isn't a whole lot of uniqueness to this particular Tito piece and there probably was something of better value to do.Nonetheless, however, I feel that though the piece is obviously as sectarian and factual incorrect as it gets, it is the view which is espoused by Tito's followers. This makes it a legitimate view worth considering even for new persons.

As I have said I do not agree with Tito's work myself (as I am affiliated with only Trotskyist groups) but I simply feel nothing would be accomplished if the guide was deleted. The guide remaining up will not cause any damage (none that isn't easily de-bunked at any rate) and might help some other person determine whether Tito is right for him or his worst enemy.

[Ismail]

but the level of the work presented in the OP seems typical of the 'TROTSKY WAS A FASCIST SPY TRYING TO BRING FASCISM TO ALL THE WORLD IN SECRET'-type crap that was typical among Marxist-Leninists of the time.It was written in 1939 when Tito (like, say, Togliatti or the recently deceased Santiago Carrillo) was not really distinguishable from any other Comintern member in ideological terms. It's a generic, mandatory work denouncing Trotskyism that any Communist official would have written at the time. It's not a lengthy essay or anything and has nothing to do with Titoism itself, so I just don't see what there is to study. There are book-length Soviet works dealing with Trotskyism, for example.


and might help some other person determine whether Tito is right for him or his worst enemy.The LCY always attacked Trotskyism, but so does the PCC in Cuba and obviously a fair amount of Trots would consider themselves supporters of Castro. After 1956 the CPSU and other parties stopped comparing Trotskyism to Fascism. Tito's 1939 piece isn't really representative of anything except for the obvious fact that he wasn't a Trotskyist then, which can obviously be said to be the case after 1945 as well.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

The LCY always attacked Trotskyism, but so does the PCC in Cuba and obviously a fair amount of Trots would consider themselves supporters of Castro. After 1956 the CPSU and other parties stopped comparing Trotskyism to Fascism. Tito's 1939 piece isn't really representative of anything except for the obvious fact that he wasn't a Trotskyist then, which can obviously be said to be the case after 1945 as well.

Interesting, I didn't know that. In light of this new information I will consider taking down this particular study guide.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Alright, since some new information has come to light in regards to the history of this piece it would probably be best if it dissipated. However I am quite a petty person and "Fuck the Clock" neg repped me. My rep used to be at 4253. Once it gets back up there to its original pre-conflict status, I will trash the thread.

[Igor]

why the fuck should people care about your rep it's fucking rep jesus

[bricolage]

why the fuck should people care about your rep it's fucking rep jesus
I mean, seriously.
the internet...

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Alrighty than, I tried to offer a compromise but if none of you wish to take it that is fine.

[roy]

it's good to know that mods are sanctioned to be petty!

[Manic Impressive]

I cannot believe this thread. Godless what were you thinking. Firstly you should not be handing out infractions to members who criticize you directly you should pm another mod or admin to deal with it as it is obvious that you have personal reasons for handing out infractions. Secondly you started a thread which was obviously flame bait then warn users not be upset.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I cannot believe this thread. Godless what were you thinking. Firstly you should not be handing out infractions to members who criticize you directly you should pm another mod or admin to deal with it as it is obvious that you have personal reasons for handing out infractions. Secondly you started a thread which was obviously flame bait then warn users not be upset.

I warned them not to get themselves in hot water as the topic was "sensitive" so I was, I believe, secure in my handing out of infractions. I didn't really have much of a personal reason (at least not in the most conventional way;I have never encountered a thread operated along these parameters so it is hard to say) but I see your point.

[Manic Impressive]

It's one of them unwritten rules that really should be a written rule. It's just a best practice thing to cover your own arse and make sure you don't get caught up in the moment. I'd suggest removing the infraction to Fuck the Clock and taking it to an admin for them to decide.

[Thirsty Crow]

Alright, since some new information has come to light in regards to the history of this piece it would probably be best if it dissipated. However I am quite a petty person and "Fuck the Clock" neg repped me. My rep used to be at 4253. Once it gets back up there to its original pre-conflict status, I will trash the thread.
Wow, just wow. I'm actually at loss for words.
Welcome to Revleflympics, your host, TheGodlessUtopian. Shit.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Wow, just wow. I'm actually at loss for words.
Welcome to Revleflympics, your host, TheGodlessUtopian. Shit.

As I said it was a compromise: FTC neg repped me for a odd reason, information arises which make the guide not a absolute necessity, and I offer to possibly trash the guide if a member or two adds to my rep to get it back, or close, to its original state. That way all the parties go home happy its like it never happened.

At this point, however, it will be decided by others in the BA. So, with that said: thread closed.