The Spanish Revolution, 1931-1939 (Trotsky book)

1973 posthumous book by Leon Trotsky

The Spanish Revolution, 1931-1939 Author| Leon Trotsky

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Original title| Trotsky and the Spanish Revolution
Translator| George Breitman and Naomi Allen (English)
Language| Russian
Genre| Nonfiction
Publisher| Pathfinder Books (America)

Publication date

| 1973
Publication place| Soviet Union
Media type| Print

The Spanish Revolution, 1931-1939 are a collection of Leon Trotsky's writings on the emanating Spanish Civil War from 1930 until 1940 during the interwar period.[1]

Throughout this period, Trotsky wrote on the urgent need for a mass revolutionary party, sharply criticised the conciliatory actions of the POUM faction such as abandoning the Left Opposition program, the intrigues of the Stalinist Comintern in suppressing the left-wing forces and facilitating the ascent of fascist Spain.[1]

In his observations and analysis, Trotsky proposed a number of actions including the temporary entry of sections of the International Left Opposition into the Socialist parties, united front with left-wing parties including the CNT and anarchist groups along with the formation of workers councils.[1]

## Writing Background

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Republican Posters featured during The Spanish Civil War

Following his exile from the Soviet Union, Trotsky had continued political activity and involvement with the international revolutionary movement. In early 1931, Trotsky had warned the Politburo that the outcome of the Spanish Revolution would be dependent on the Spanish Communist Party and the pending failure would result in the initiation of a fascist dictatorship reminiscent of the Mussolini regime.[2] However, his pleas were rejected by the Comintern, under the direction of Stalin, who had demanded the destruction of Trotsky and Trotskyists.[2]

Correspondingly, Trotsky and his followers abandoned any notion of rehabilitating the Communist International after the rise of the Nazi Germany and the diplomatic intrigues of the Stalinist-dominated Comintern.[1] Instead, Trotsky called for the formation of new international and new parties which defined his attitude towards Spain.[1] In this period, the primary organisations of the left consisted of anarchists, trade unionists, socialists, Comintern-allied communists and the Trotskyist Left Opposition.[1]

## Content

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The flag colours of the Trotskyist-influenced POUM faction

Trotsky elucidated a number of organisational and programmatic challenges facing the Spanish Left Opposition in tandem with the Republican factions. In his writings, heavy emphasis and urgency is placed on the need for a mass, revolutionary political party premised on the Leninist model.[1]

The first half of the book draws particular attention to the newly focused Spanish section of the International Left Opposition. In the latter half of his writings, Trotsky issued polemical criticisms of sectarian elements, the placatory decisions of Andreu Nin and the reformist programs of the non-revolutionary organisations.[1] Pressingly, he issued a pamphlet "The Lessons of Spain - The Last Warning" in 1937 summarising his views on the Spanish Revolution and the machinations of Stalin.[1]

A day prior to his assassination, Trotsky had produced an article on August 20 1940 which viewed the role of class, party and leadership calibre as the determinant, factors that inexorably ensured the defeat of the Spanish Republic.[3]

## Historical evaluation and reception

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Trotsky's political theory and conception of historical development had a considerable influence on Spanish dissident communists from 1930 until 1937.[4] In the view of historian Alan Sennett, his writings shaped their political critique of Stalinism and comprehension of fascism.[4] Senett further argued that this volume of Trotsky's writings had received negligible attention from recent biographers such as Robert Service, Geoffrey Swain and Ian Thatcher whilst French Trotskyist historian Pierre Broue has engaged with this specific literature more vigorously.[4]

In contrast, Left Oppositionist and anarchist, Victor Serge, directed criticism at Trotsky’s writings on the Spanish Civil War including his harsh denouncement of the tactical errors of POUM as “treason” and perceived sectarianism. Serge argued his ideological inflexibility on this matter and personal traits had weakened his influence among the international socialist left.[5] Comparatively, political scientist James Martin believed that Trotsky's writings exhibited a prescient analysis and a strong accuracy of military affairs which was vindicated by the Spanish Civil War.[6]

## See also

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* List of books by Leon Trotsky
* Spanish Revolution of 1936
* POUM
* Revolutionary Catalonia

## References

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* v
* t
* e

Leon Trotsky

Works|

* Leon Trotsky bibliography
* Our Political Tasks (1904)
* Our Revolution (1906)
* 1905 (1908)
* The Permanent Revolution and Results and Prospects (1919)
* Terrorism and Communism (1920)
* Literature and Revolution (1924)
* New Course (1924)
* Lessons of October (1925)
* Towards Socialism or Capitalism? (1925)
* My Life (1930)
* The Permanent Revolution (1930)
* History of the Russian Revolution (1932)
* The Revolution Betrayed (1937)
* The Stalin School of Falsification (1937)
* Their Morals and Ours: The class foundations of moral practice (1938)
* Stalin: An Appraisal of the Man and His Influence (1938–1940)
* Writings of Leon Trotsky
* The Spanish Revolution, 1931-1939 (1930-1940)

Related|

* First exile of Trotsky
* Trotsky's train
* Lenin's Testament
* American Committee for the Defense of Leon Trotsky
* The Blue House
* Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky
* Leon Trotsky House Museum
* List of Trotskyist internationals
* Permanent revolution
* Trotskyism
* Ramón Mercader (assassin)

Family|

* Lev Kamenev (brother-in-law)
* Olga Kameneva (sister)
* Lev Sedov (son)
* Sergei Sedov (son)
* Natalia Sedova (second wife)
* Aleksandra Sokolovskaya (first wife)
* Zinaida Volkova (daughter)

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trotsky, Leon (1973). The Spanish Revolution, 1931-39. Pathfinder Press. pp. 17–52. ISBN 978-0-87348-273-8.
2. ^ a b Volkogonov, Dmitri (June 18, 2008). Trotsky: Eternal Revolutionary. Simon and Schuster. pp. 438–443. ISBN 978-1-4391-0573-3.
3. ^ Trotsky, Leon (1973). The Spanish Revolution, 1931-39. Pathfinder Press. pp. 442–443. ISBN 978-0-87348-273-8.
4. ^ a b c Sennett, Alan (July 3, 2014). Revolutionary Marxism in Spain, 1930-1937. BRILL. pp. 1–15. ISBN 978-90-04-27056-5.
5. ^ Serge, Victor. "Unpublished Manuscript on Their Morals and Ours by Victor Serge 1940". www.marxists.org.
6. ^ Martin, James (2002). Antonio Gramsci: Marxism, philosophy and politics. Taylor & Francis. pp. 399–401. ISBN 978-0-415-21749-1.

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