Leon Trotsky
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Bolshevik revolutionary; People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of Soviet Russia, 1918-1925 · Russia
3 quotes, oldest first. Filter with other speakers.
Content note: Defends intimidation as a tool of policy (Red Terror). The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“Intimidation is a powerful weapon of policy, both internationally and internally. War, like revolution, is founded upon intimidation.”
English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found.
From his reply to Karl Kautsky's book on terrorism, written during the Russian Civil War. Trotsky treats intimidation as an ordinary instrument of both war and revolution.
Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' Source
Content note: Defends killing to intimidate and break a class's will (Red Terror). The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“A victorious war, generally speaking, destroys only an insignificant part of the conquered army, intimidating the remainder and breaking their will. The revolution works in the same way: it kills individuals, and intimidates thousands.”
English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found.
Same chapter of the reply to Kautsky. He compares the effect of revolutionary killing on a class with the effect of a victorious war on a defeated army.
Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' Source
Content note: Defends the Red Terror as a continuation of armed insurrection. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“In this sense, the Red Terror is not distinguishable from the armed insurrection, the direct continuation of which it represents.”
English: English edition printed by the Workers Party of America as 'Dictatorship vs. Democracy' (Terrorism and Communism), as hosted by Marxists Internet Archive; translator not named on the page. Original-language text not found.
Follows directly after the sentence on revolution killing individuals and intimidating thousands. Trotsky describes the Red Terror as a continuation of the armed insurrection of 1917.
Leon Trotsky, Terrorism and Communism (1920; American edition Dictatorship vs. Democracy), chapter 4, 'Terrorism' Source