Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin (The Background of Russian Politics)

The recent events in Russia, particularly a number of references made at the 20th Congress of the Russian Communist Party, have brought back into public discussion issues and problems concerning the history of 20th century radicalism that for a good many years had been confined to specialized circles. The following article, though written before the 20th Congress, provides a useful summary account of the events that have led to the recent revelations.

I
Lenin believed that the socialist movement alone could endow
the workers with political consciousness. As he saw it, the socialist movement and idea had their birth and exist...