Our Revolution (Trotsky book)

Our Revolution is a collection of essays and articles written by Leon Trotsky primarily between 1904 and 1906. The book, first published in Russian in 1907 and later translated into English, provides insights into Trotsky's perspective on the 1905 Russian Revolution and his theory of Permanent Revolution.

The work covers a broad range of topics including the nature of the Russian autocracy, the role of the peasantry in the revolution, the relationship between the working class and the liberal bourgeoisie, and the importance of international socialist revolution. Trotsky argues that the Russian bourgeoisie was too weak and dependent on the Tsarist regime to lead a successful democratic revolution. He believed that the working class, allied with the peasantry, would need to seize power and carry out socialist transformations, which would then ignite socialist revolutions in more advanced capitalist countries.

Key themes explored in Our Revolution include:

• Permanent Revolution: Trotsky's theory that the bourgeois-democratic revolution in a backward country like Russia could only be completed by the proletariat taking power and proceeding to socialist tasks, which would then become part of a continuous, or "permanent," international revolutionary process.
• The Role of the Proletariat: Trotsky emphasizes the central role of the industrial working class as the leading force in the revolution due to its concentration, organization, and class consciousness.
• The Relationship between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat: He critiques the Russian liberal bourgeoisie's inability to lead a genuine revolution and argues for the necessity of proletarian leadership.
• Internationalism: The book stresses the importance of international solidarity and the interconnectedness of the revolutionary struggles in different countries. Trotsky saw the Russian Revolution as a prelude to a wider European and global socialist revolution.

Our Revolution is considered a seminal work in Marxist theory, particularly for its articulation of the theory of Permanent Revolution. It offers valuable insights into the debates within the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party during the early 20th century and continues to be studied by scholars and activists interested in revolutionary movements and socialist theory. The book reflects Trotsky's evolving political thought and his analysis of the specific conditions of Russia's development and its revolutionary potential.