This book is correctly regarded as one of Trotsky's finest classics. It is a product of a sharp polemic within the American trotskyist movement during the period 1939-40. This was a dispute which touched on the very fundamentals of Marxism. It was for this reason that Trotsky himself participated in this struggle in the form of a series of articles and letters that are brought together in this volume. The issues covered concern the essence of Marxist theory and deal with such questions as: The class nature of the Soviet state.The defence of the Soviet Union against imperialist attack.Bolshevik principles of organisation.Dialectical Materialism.This book is Trotsky at his best: profound, concise and theorectically razor sharp. Read more ISBN10 1913026035 ISBN13 978-1913026035 Language English Publisher Wellred Dimensions 5.5 x 0.78 x 8.5 inches Item Weight 11.5 ounces Print length 312 pages Publication date March 25, 2019