Trotskyism is a political ideology that developed from the ideas of Leon Trotsky, a key figure in the Russian Revolution, while Marxism refers to the political, economic, and philosophical theories developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Trotskyism emphasizes the importance of international revolution and permanent revolution, whereas Marxism focuses on class struggle and the eventual establishment of a classless society.

Trotskyism was Leon Trotsky's philosophy that communism had to be achieved by permanent revolution in all countries. Karl Marx initially felt that no single country could survive as a communist country surrounded by capitalist countries and Trotsky agreed. Joseph Stalin believed that socialism )not communism at this point) should be firmly established on one country (Russia) first, then it could be advocated in others.

Kostas Mavrakis has written:

'Du trotskysme' -- subject(s): Fourth International, Revolutions, History

'On Trotskyism' -- subject(s): Fourth International, Revolutions, History

Trotskyism is a strand of communist theory which does not have any real differences with the communism of people like Marx, Engels and Lenin. It does however, have a very great deal of difference with what people usually call communism, that is, Stalinism. One way they differ is on questions of democracy, Stalinism is of course very anti-democratic while Trotsky saw socialism and democracy as being inseperable.

Alex Callinicos has written:

'The revolutionary ideas of Karl Marx' -- subject(s): Marxian economics

'Trotskyism'

'Is there a future for Marxism?' -- subject(s): Communism

'Social theory' -- subject(s): Sociology, History