Past Present Future The History of Revolutionary Ideas: Lenin and Trotsky
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Apr 24, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, historian Edward Acton, a specialist in modern Russia, dives deep into the intertwined lives of Lenin and Trotsky. He unpacks their radicalization, examining how personal tragedies shaped their revolutionary beliefs. The conversation highlights their contrasting views on party structure and the role of the working class, revealing the ideological rift that eventually developed. Acton also shares insights into their pivotal moments during the 1917 revolution and the legacy of their revolutionary theories.
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Lenin's Radicalizing Family Trauma
- Lenin's older brother's execution for attempting to assassinate Alexander III deeply radicalized him.
- This trauma fueled Lenin's determination to advance revolutionary ideas beyond his brother's Narodnik terrorism approach.
Lenin vs Narodniks on Revolution
- The Narodniks believed assassinating the czar would trigger peasant revolt and land redistribution.
- Lenin rejected their terrorism, focusing instead on industrial workers as revolutionary agents.
Lenin's Marxist Conviction
- Lenin was deeply inspired by Marxism, believing it revealed how history and social change operate.
- He embraced the theory that class struggle drives revolutions toward collective ownership and the end of class conflict.
