"The Revolution Betrayed" (Leon Trotsky)

"The Revolution Betrayed," written by Leon Trotsky in 1937, critiques the Soviet state under Joseph Stalin, arguing that it had deviated from the ideals of the 1917 Russian Revolution. Trotsky contends that instead of fostering a true socialist society, the Communist Party had become bureaucratic and authoritarian, suppressing workers' democracy and creative potential. He believes that this betrayal led to oppression and a distorted version of socialism, where the regime prioritized its power over the revolutionary goals of equality and freedom. The work serves as both a historical analysis and a warning against the dangers of bureaucratic rule in revolutionary movements.