Tony Cliff

Tony Cliff was a political theorist and activist known for developing the "state capitalism" theory, which argues that the Soviet Union, despite appearing socialist, was actually similar to capitalist countries controlled by a ruling elite. He co-founded the Socialist Workers Party in the UK and contributed significantly to Trotskyist thought. Cliff's work focused on understanding capitalism and bureaucratic centralized governments, emphasizing the importance of revolutionary change to establish genuine socialism. His ideas influence leftist debates on state power and socialism's nature.