Bukharinism, Revolution and Social Development

Abstract

Stephen Cohen's book Bukharin and the Russian evolution' confronts Marxists with a personage, an ideology and an interpretation of history which not only present serious problems but even constitute a kind of challenge to them. Without necessarily identifying itself with all the theories of Trotskyism, or, even less, with the latter's organisational forms, Marxism-and in particular, revolutionary Marxism-has found no reply to the triumph of Stalin other than one that is at least inspired by Trotskyism. whatever may be thought of its historical achievement and present relevance, Trotskyism has been the most consistent socialist opposition to Stalinism, in a number . . of essential matters: loyalty to internationalism, will to maintain a revolutionary dynamic, aspiration to establish workers' democracy. It is certainly possible to question the validity of some Trotskyist principles, to criticise one aspect or another of the career of the founder of the Red Army, and, especially, to doubt the appropriateness of the tactics employed by his successors. Nevertheless, the great political debate that has arisen from the Bolshevik victory and its confinement to Russia alone has, almost classically, assumed the form of the choice between Stalinism and Trotskyism.