[Marxism] Underestimating the Peasantry

["DoC" <donaloc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis, a chara,

I do not want to step into a major argument about Trotsky's formulation
of the nature of the dictatorship as opposed to Lenin's. I generally
find myself agreeing with Lenin - who to me - was very much more
long-headed and disciplined in many ways. I find Trotsky consistently
prone to formulations and ideological strait-jackets. Having said that,
I have many of his books and consider him worthwhile reading.

The well known example of where Trotsky under-estimated the peasantry is
his appalling take on the 1916 Irish Rising. He was entirely incorrect.
I have heard it said that he also got it wrong on China. I think that
the Chinese also say Stalin got it wrong too. I don't know about that
but I do know about Ireland. Trotsky was totally wrong. Was this an
isolated event or was it reflective of his broader ideological position.
I tend towards the latter having read him in detail on Russia.

What is important is that around the third world revolutionary movements
have, as you correctly put it, stood outside the ideological
strait-jackets imposed by both Trotskyite and CP mantras - whether PR or
Stagist. What I like about Lenin is not that he is consistent with
time - in fact being obviously consistent with time (to the external
viewer who has imperfect information) is a good sign that you're not
behaving in adherence to the dialectic. Consistency will only be truly
apparent when we view an approach in detail. Mistakes can of course be
made but inconsistency over time is not a good proof of them.

In a similar way, Mao or Castro look inconsistent over time. The
ideological construct that policy or tactics must be consistent is
non-marxist in my view.

I thought that the best contribution to this debate was the poster who
referenced writings by Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin and then two new
references to people who hold varying positions. That surely, is what
this is about. Who was right in 1917 isn't hugely important now. But if
it is that's how to treat it.

What is really important is that mistakes (or correct positions) on that
question don't handcuff us from seeing whether Chavez is correct today
in Venezuela or whether the current Sinn Féin strategy is working in
Ireland. This sort of analysis really runs around the correct conception
of state power something I think we need to go back to periodically. I
think that one of Lenin's greatest legacies is his return to M&E on the
state. I think it needs development a la Gramsci but fundamentally, a
correct conception of state power and the means to revolution are the
basis of correct revolutionary policy - not some formula whether from
Lenin or Mao or Trotsky.

In all cases, we must go back to concrete analysis of concrete
circumstance instead of wielding tired and over-generalised formulas as
if they were some permanent truth.

Le meas,
DoC.

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