Trotsky’s formulation of the dictatorship of the proletariat is that it’s purely comprised of the proletariat, and in Russia, its numbers are insufficient. So to succeed in building socialism, it would need help from the proletariat in other countries. Hence, world revolution.

This is contrast to Lenin’s formulation of the dictatorship of the proletariat, which was an alliance mainly between the peasantry and the proletariat to defeat capitalism (hence hammer and sickle) but also includes other classes.

So, we know in hindsight that Trotsky was wrong because the revolution in Germany didn’t succeed.

[–] sangeteria@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 months ago

This video put me onto Dr. Rahman and his Marxism lecture series. I'm on lecture 8 and I highly recommend it. It takes the lens of philosophy (as opposed to history, economics, or sociology), but is very approachable for someone who lacks a strong background in philosophy like myself.