Leon Trotsky was a Russian politician, revolutionary, and Marxist theorist who played a significant role in the early development of the Soviet Union. Born on November 7, 1879, as Lev Davidovich Bronstein, Trotsky adopted his revolutionary pseudonym later on. He rose to prominence as a revolutionary leader during the early 20th century, particularly for his involvement in the Bolshevik Party.
Trotsky played a crucial part in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and was a key figure in the creation of the Red Army, which emerged victorious in the Russian Civil War. He became a close ally of Vladimir Lenin and served as the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs from 1917 to 1918, shaping Soviet foreign policy during that nascent period.
Trotsky was a fervent advocate of international revolution, promoting the idea of spreading communist ideals beyond Russia's borders. However, following Lenin's death in 1924, a power struggle ensued within the Soviet Union. Trotsky clashed with Joseph Stalin and fell out of favor, leading to his expulsion from the Communist Party in 1927 and subsequent exile from the country in 1929.
While in exile, Trotsky continued his critique of the Soviet regime and authored numerous books, essays, and articles that advanced his Marxist theories. Eventually, he became a target of Stalin's regime, and in 1940, he was assassinated in Mexico City by a Soviet agent.
Today, Trotsky is predominantly remembered as a key theorist and revolutionary figure, delineating ideas such as permanent revolution and advocating for workers' power. His contributions to the development of Soviet politics, as well as his intellectual legacy, continue to be studied and debated by scholars and political activists alike.
