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aubreymccabe's review against another edition
5.0
“The picket is the embryo of the workers militia.” This book (pamphlet? Idk) was concise, well-written, insightful, and relevant as fuck. I feel like my radicalization was truly sharpened by the information in this. At risk of sounding like an internet Trotskyist, Leon Trotsky is a wonderful writer and very intelligent. This text will be put to use.
whiskerz's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.5
As a short compilations of writings from Trotsky on fascism written in 1930s, its not that useful today, but it is interesting to see what was being written at the time.
It might seem obvious now that fascism's social base is the petty bourgeoisie, used as a tool of the haute, but from what I can find Trotsky was one of the first writers to really analyze this. Still, this compilation doesn't do too much more than define this aspect of fascism, missing others.
'And how to fight it' - there are some vague points about workers militias and the 'united front', but not much of substance here.
It might seem obvious now that fascism's social base is the petty bourgeoisie, used as a tool of the haute, but from what I can find Trotsky was one of the first writers to really analyze this. Still, this compilation doesn't do too much more than define this aspect of fascism, missing others.
'And how to fight it' - there are some vague points about workers militias and the 'united front', but not much of substance here.
stevia333k's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
I first want to say there's Nazis who submitted posts here. Basically they're denying the Nazis killed 20+ million Soviets.
I'm rating this in the 2024 sense, not the contemporary sense. I would not recommend this book in 2024 because of how outdated it is.
He doesn't practice even proto-intersectionality yet he's arguing for building solidarity by acting like differences don't exist, which is objectification. I read this book in order to understand where childhood me was mistaken. It turns out Trotsky influenced a lot of baby boomer & McCarthy era visions of revolution.
Let's first start by saying Trotsky's military career started by telling his soldiers not to defend themselves against German soldiers in an attempt to get the German soldiers to defect. However because the German soldiers had more to lose if their would be mutiny failed, the German soldiers ended up massacring the Soviet soldiers. Trotsky failed. So when his strategy saves more lives than Stalin, he's lying.
Secondly, there's an introduction from 1969 which I think is too conservative. By the way, the "hypnotism" has nothing to do with fascism. that 'hyponotism" called advertising/branding & use of fascism to talk about "hypnotism" is the antisemitic judeo-bolshevik canard nazis use. The good news is that people did study that part they saw in fascism, but again it's communication not class collaborationism massacuring people to save money.
Based on other works, Trotsky thinks the dictatorship in USA would actually allow a socialist to run for office. He's pulling some Browderist Socialism with American characteristics bullshit which refuses to deal with colonization of indigenous peoples. He also thinks revolution flows from the imperial core like a railroad transportation hub, instead of exploitation. Which again, puts itself against landback. Further, he doesn't define who in USA was doing well at rebelling. He's illegible considering how Jim Crow worked. He doesn't cite specific events to even fact check beyond it being dogmatic flattery.
I agree with the so-called "Stalin" use of "social fascist". Also IDK what to make of "Aesop's Fables", especially since Aesop was from before the machine gun. So the discussion about infighting preventing solidarity comes off as foundational oppressions trying to excuse their racism, their sexism, their classism, their colonialism, and call marginalized people slurs.
The main good thing he says is that fascism is about money & that it cannot be fought with electoralism because fascists use assassinations as well.
I'm rating this in the 2024 sense, not the contemporary sense. I would not recommend this book in 2024 because of how outdated it is.
He doesn't practice even proto-intersectionality yet he's arguing for building solidarity by acting like differences don't exist, which is objectification. I read this book in order to understand where childhood me was mistaken. It turns out Trotsky influenced a lot of baby boomer & McCarthy era visions of revolution.
Let's first start by saying Trotsky's military career started by telling his soldiers not to defend themselves against German soldiers in an attempt to get the German soldiers to defect. However because the German soldiers had more to lose if their would be mutiny failed, the German soldiers ended up massacring the Soviet soldiers. Trotsky failed. So when his strategy saves more lives than Stalin, he's lying.
Secondly, there's an introduction from 1969 which I think is too conservative. By the way, the "hypnotism" has nothing to do with fascism. that 'hyponotism" called advertising/branding & use of fascism to talk about "hypnotism" is the antisemitic judeo-bolshevik canard nazis use. The good news is that people did study that part they saw in fascism, but again it's communication not class collaborationism massacuring people to save money.
Based on other works, Trotsky thinks the dictatorship in USA would actually allow a socialist to run for office. He's pulling some Browderist Socialism with American characteristics bullshit which refuses to deal with colonization of indigenous peoples. He also thinks revolution flows from the imperial core like a railroad transportation hub, instead of exploitation. Which again, puts itself against landback. Further, he doesn't define who in USA was doing well at rebelling. He's illegible considering how Jim Crow worked. He doesn't cite specific events to even fact check beyond it being dogmatic flattery.
I agree with the so-called "Stalin" use of "social fascist". Also IDK what to make of "Aesop's Fables", especially since Aesop was from before the machine gun. So the discussion about infighting preventing solidarity comes off as foundational oppressions trying to excuse their racism, their sexism, their classism, their colonialism, and call marginalized people slurs.
The main good thing he says is that fascism is about money & that it cannot be fought with electoralism because fascists use assassinations as well.
krishnu's review against another edition
3.0
Trotsky's model of Fascism seems poorly flehed outwhen looked from the perspective of a 90's born.
But then think again, as a work written in the 1930s, as a running memoir of Fascism, in an era without internet or the advancements of mass media, you have to appreciate that he has hit the mark when he said that Fascism as adecay in politics which originates inside the middle class(more aptly the lower middle class if you ask me.)
PS: I wouldn't reccomend this book. I would prefer if someone read Paxton or even Wilhelm Reich's book.
But then think again, as a work written in the 1930s, as a running memoir of Fascism, in an era without internet or the advancements of mass media, you have to appreciate that he has hit the mark when he said that Fascism as adecay in politics which originates inside the middle class(more aptly the lower middle class if you ask me.)
PS: I wouldn't reccomend this book. I would prefer if someone read Paxton or even Wilhelm Reich's book.
hanbeachy's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
flordelmal's review against another edition
3.0
Esperaba algo un poco más teórico y no tan práctico, aunque sí que es cierto que es un panfleto político dirigido a las masas sociales de la época, y que yo no puedo identificarme del todo con esas experiencias pasadas.
josephbdoner's review against another edition
4.0
Though at times disjointed due to its nature as a series of excerpts from letters and other works by Trotsky, this book provides a decent overview of the broad strokes of the emergence of fascism in the wake of WW1. Trotsky's point of view in these matters is, in my view, an essential aspect of understanding how fascism was allowed to rise and seize power in the interwar period. I believe that Trotsky's observations in this case can also be used in order to better understand the present rise of the alt-right across the globe and to differentiate between fascists, those who partner with fascists, and those with fascist tendencies. One of the weaknesses of Trotsky's writing in this case would be his failure to specifically and efficiently define what fascism is, though that is certainly no easy task in itself. Much of Trotsky's reasoning behind the rise of fascism is pinned to the causes of economic deprivation and revolutionary despair in the middle class and, to a certain extent, the working classes as well. Trotsky puts most of the blame for all of this on the twin causes of the evils of capitalism and the failure of Comintern leadership at the time to act decisively or effectively against the rise of fascist parties. Trotsky's bias shines through some when he's evaluating these causes, as its quite possible that he allows some of his personal feelings towards Stalin to cloud his judgement of overall Comintern policy.
I've read my physical copy once and listened to an audiobook version twice. While it has its flaws and biases, as does any political writing, I strongly believe that this is an essential read for those seeking a better understanding what fascism is, how it leverages power, how socialist and communist organizations have traditionally failed to stop it, and what strategies could be utilized in order to prevent events from repeating.
I've read my physical copy once and listened to an audiobook version twice. While it has its flaws and biases, as does any political writing, I strongly believe that this is an essential read for those seeking a better understanding what fascism is, how it leverages power, how socialist and communist organizations have traditionally failed to stop it, and what strategies could be utilized in order to prevent events from repeating.