By Robert Montgomery
To discuss socialism coherently, after mastering the “basics” in Marx and Engels, we need to read the seminal documents of the Trotskyist movement. All of them. : The Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the 4th international, The Permanent Revolution, The Revolution Betrayed, and In Defense of Marxism.
For starters.
Only then will we have the theoretical and political clarity to intelligently discuss:
– what capitalism is
– what socialism is
– what communism is
– what a workers state is
– what a degenerated workers state is
– what a deformed workers state is
– what Stalinism is
I don’t mean we become academics or reference librarians. It takes hard, disciplined work. If we fail to do it we risk talking impressionistically. The World Socialist Website is a great reference source. It has a link to the classics. The Marxist Internet Archive is essential also.
Marx and Engels – The basics
The Communist Manifesto
Read the “The Communist Manifesto” here
Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
Read “Socialism – Utopian and Scientific” here
Lenin
Karl Marx: A brief biographical sketch with an exposition of Marxism
Read “Karl Marx A Brief Biographical Sketch with an Exposition of Marxism – 1914” here
Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Read “Imperialism: The highest stage Capitalism” here.
The State and Revolution
Read “The State and Revolution” here.
Trotsky
Marxism in Our Time
Read “Marxism in our time ” here.
The Revolution Betrayed
Read “The Revolution Betrayed” here
The Permanent Revolution, Basic Postulates
Read “The Permanent Revolution, Basic Postulates”
In Defense of Marxism
Read “In defence of Marxism” here
The Death Agony of Capitalism and the Tasks of the Fourth International
(Also known as the “Transitional Program)
Read the “The death agony of capitalism and the tasks of the 4th International” here.