Kelly Contemporary Trotskyism

Parties, Sects and Social Movements in Britain
1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-317-36895-3
Verlag: CRC Press
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 310 Seiten

Reihe: Routledge Studies in Radical History and Politics

Almost 80 years after Leon Trotsky founded the Fourth International, there are now Trotskyist organizations in 57 countries, including most of Western Europe and Latin America. Yet no Trotskyist group has ever led a revolution or built an enduring mass, political party. Contemporary Trotskyism looks in detail at the influence, resilience and weaknesses of the British Trotskyist movement, from the 1970s to the present day.

The book argues that to understand and explain the development, resilience and influence of Trotskyist groups, we need to analyse them as bodies that comprise elements of three types of organization: the political party, the sect and the social movement. It is the properties of these three facets of organization and the interplay between them that gives rise to the most characteristic features of the Trotskyist movement: frenetic activity, rampant divisions, inter-organizational hostility, authoritarian and charismatic leadership, high membership turnover and ideological rigidity.

Trotskyist groups have been involved in a wide range of important social movements including trade unions, student unions, anti-war, anti-racist and anti-fascist groups. While their energy and activity in civil society have had some success, their influence has never been reflected in votes or seats at elections even after the financial crisis.

Drawing on extensive archival research, as well as interviews with many of the leading protagonists and activists within the Trotskyist milieu, this is essential reading for students, activists and researchers with an interest in the far left, social movements and contemporary British political history.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kelly, John

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Ideologien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
Chapter 1 - Theoretical Perspectives
Chapter 2 - Trotsky and the Origins of Trotskyism
Chapter 3 - Development of the Trotskyist Movement in Britain, Part 1: 1950–1985
Chapter 4 -Development of the Trotskyist Movement in Britain, Part 2: 1985–2017
Chapter 5 -Doctrine, Orthodoxy and Sectarianism
Chapter 6 - Party Recruitment
Chapter 7 -Party Electoral Performance
Chapter 8 -Organizational Resources
Chapter 9 - Working in the Trade Unions
Chapter 10 - Social Movements and Front Organizations
Chapter 11 - The Proliferation of Trotskyist Internationals
Chapter 12 - The Achievements, Limitations and Weaknesses of Trotskyism
Appendix 1 British Trotskyist Organizations 1950–2017
Appendix 2 Sources for Trotskyist Organizational Membership Figures
Appendix 3 Trotskyist Organizations in Western Europe 2017
Appendix 4 Defunct Trotskyist Internationals 1970–2017
Appendix 5 List of Interviewees
Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

John Kelly teaches at the Department of Management, Birkbeck College, University of London. He has published widely on trade unions and the labour movement.