Trotsky!!! (1 Viewer)

[Anna89]

Trotsky essay question:

‘Those who are inspired by an ideal rather than self-interest make the biggest
impact on history.’
To what extent does the study of your personality support this view? (15 Marks)

....I've been trying to write an essay on this question...but...my god its hard.
The best points I can think of so far are:
- His writings continued in exile/ are still read /impact people today
- Although Stalin came to power and trotsky was exiled he still held a vast influence through his writings on the people of Russia
- Kept 'original' ideology of Marxism alive

....yeh that's it. I'm not 100% sure but I know I should relate it some how to his main roles in the Civil War/NEP/Red Army...i just dont know how...so if anyone has any ideas or new points - do tell! Thanks!!

 

[Cindi_99]

you could also somehow mention his 3 achievements as a practical revolutionary:

• role in 1905 revolution
• role in 1917 revolution
• role as Commissar for War during the Civil War

thats a tricky question... i've got my modern history trial next thursday.. i hope i dont get anything like that.. but knowing the catholic trail.. it will be harder..
good luck

 

[jasonmatthew]

I have been doing alot of work on this question, and the main points you need to show are what are his ideals and how they go way beyond his self interest

For example. In the early beginnings he wrote and editedmany newspapers such as the Iskra and the Prava, Why did he do this becuase of his ideals of a permanent revoloution. Did this go way beyond his self interest yes. He could have kept on studying mathematics which he was good at but put his ideals that he wished for above this, and didnt care about his self interests even though he might get in jaul for it

Lets look at the 1917 revoloution. What were his ideals, achieving the revoloution, overthrowing the Tsar, did he achieve this yes. Did he put this above his self interests of ultimate power of the party yes and did he risk his own self interest of security and comfort and riske his own death for the party yes, thus his ideals are put above eveyrthing else

You must in order to get the top marks do this for everything throughout his life. Now people arguing against this quote would say about the power sturggle, but use this to your advantage say that he was merely putting the ideals of the party at heart because he wanted a Permanent revoloution over the Socialism in one country of Stalin
Look at his writings after his exile

Hope this helps everyone
Thanks
M

 

[ulleh]

But stalin is remembered more in historical terms; dont forget that arguement. Plus Trotsky was anti social in the political party, his means where his ends

 

[jasonmatthew]

But stalin is only remembered because he had lead through more signficant times e.g the cold war thats why we no so much about him. But in terms of the period where Trotsky was, he was by far more remembered, he was a much better speaker, and yes he did try and get power in the end but that was moreso for the interests of the party, he even risked death

 

[Danm999]

But stalin is only remembered because he had lead through more signficant times e.g the cold war thats why we no so much about him. But in terms of the period where Trotsky was, he was by far more remembered, he was a much better speaker, and yes he did try and get power in the end but that was moreso for the interests of the party, he even risked death

Err, not really. Stalin hardly led the USSR through the Cold War, that largely began late 50s early 60s, Stalin died in 54.

Stalin is remembered because he took over the party from Lenin and by the late 20s had pretty decent control over it. He galvanised this with massive economic and social reforms, as well as the infamous Great Purges. His leadership during the Great Patriotic War also scores mention.

Trotsky was remembered from about 1917 to 1928ish, when he got expelled. During that time, yes he was the much more significant revolutionary and Lenin's logical successor. But after he was exiled, his name became poison, and you only said it to get someone purged. He was pretty much denied his rightful place in Soviet history for decades.

 

[m.c.moey]

trotsky was too arrogant.. while stalin was plotting and scheming trotsky was organising his desk..
he was obsessed with organisation and thought he was above the rest

Stalin was a great leader.. his "end justifies the mean" approach on things led to great accomplishments in russia.. yeah millions died and suffered.. but hey he had 2 do wat he had 2 do.. if he didnt push for all that change and industrialisation russia wud have probably fell in ww2
i love writing essays on stalin i could do it all day

Trotsky was boring.. he was too by the book

 

[Bobness]

Trotsky was boring.. he was too by the book

grr and so are many of these posts responses

looking at that question i would have gone straight for the permanent revolution theories but instead of making it so abstract with his 'writings' in iskra and prava and his 'quiet' revolutionary activities following his exile i'd have focused on maybe 4 major CONCRETE aspects of his role in the bolshevik party say

1) october revolution

2) civil war

3) treaty of brest-litovsk

4) kronstadt revolt

which defined who he was. these are definitely a lot trickier than most because most historiography focuses on his role and the bolsheviks rather this his MOTIVATIONS however if you can pull it off (i kind of did in the trials and hopefully hsc) then that's awesome.