Comrade Neeraj Jain on Stalin and Trotsky

[Scottish_Militant]

We received this document from comrade Neeraj Jain in Pune, India. For twenty years comrade Neeraj was active in the Maoist movement in India. Then recently he discovered the writings of Trotsky. As he says, “I only began reading Trotsky a year ago. It was a revelation! It was writing in the best tradition of Marx, Engels and Lenin. It came as a shocker to me… the Maoist movement in India is silent on Trotsky’s criticisms of Stalin, criticisms which are totally in the spirit of Marxism-Leninism.” We may not necessarily agree on everything comrade Neeraj has to say about Mao, but we believe this document is of great interest as it shows that among comrades from a Maoist background there is a rethinking taking place and the writings of Trotsky have a big role to play in the process. (May 2005)

Table of Contents:

Introduction (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/introduction.htm)

Chapter 1: Debate between Stalin and Trotsky on economic policy (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch1.htm)

Chapter 2: Women, family, youth and culture (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch2.htm)

Chapter 3: Changes in the Red Army (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch3.htm)

Chapter 4: Socialism in one country (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch4.htm)

Chapter 5: On foreign policy (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch5.htm)

Chapter 6: The complete victory of socialism in the USSR (!) (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch6.htm)

Chapter 7: Trotsky’s analysis of problems of socialism: a comment (http://www.marxist.com/Asia/neeraj_jahn/ch7.htm)

[Poum_1936]

I already read a piece of this and will have to say it is an enoyable read.

[Sukhe-Bator]

Definitely a step in the right direction. The quicker that Trotsky's contribution to Marxism becomes appreciated, the better. Most Stalinists have never given Trotsky more than a cursory reading. The next revolution will need to incorporate the lessons learned from the failure of Stalinism if it is to spread and to truly achieve socialism.

[Redmau5]

Most Stalinists are usually just living in a fantasy and are just attracted to the whole Stalin personality cult.

I agree, the sooner Trotsky becomes widely accepted the better it is for the Socialist movement.

[SonofRage]

Bolshevism and Stalinism (http://www.marxists.org/archive/mattick-paul/1947/bolshevism-stalinism.htm) by Paul Mattick

[Poum_1936]

Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution (http://www.marxist.com/bolshevism/) by Allan Woods

If you wish to hold the notions that Stalinism and Bolshevism are one and the same then so be it. But if you are truly intrested in learning the truth about Bolshevism and its history, then by all means, this book is a must read.