Substitutionism Explained

Substitutionism is a term in Marxist theory which refers to the relationship between the revolutionary party and the working class, which refers to the former's activity substituting the latter's. It is seen as an inverse to classical Marxism, which suggests the "emancipation of the working class must be the work of the working class itself".^[1] The term was coined by the Russian revolutionary, Leon Trotsky in 1904, as a warning against what he saw as a flaw inherent in Lenin's conception of the party.^[2]

See also

• Castroism
• Maoism
• Permanent revolution
• Stalinism
• State capitalism
• Two Stage Theory
• Vanguardism

References

Web site: A Country Study: Soviet Union (Former). . 2006-12-04.

Further reading

• Book: Trotsky, Leon. Leon Trotsky. 1904. Tactical Tasks: The content of our activity in the proletariat. Our Political Tasks. London. New Park Publications. 657979984. https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1904/tasks/ch03.htm.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Strategy and Tactics of the Class Struggle. Marxist Internet Archive. Engels. Friedrich. Friedrich Engels. September 17–18, 1879. August 19, 2010.
2. Trotsky on substitutionism. Cliff. Tony. Tony Cliff. International Socialism. 2. 14–17, 22–26. 1960. August 19, 2010. 1754-4653.