VLVL Rex Snuvvle

[Michel Ryckx]

Hi.

What I think to be a bit weird in the 4th International description is 
the idea that the members of a Trotskyite group would call themselves 
'Bolshevik-Leninist'.  That's something for the Stalinists, especially 
the Maoist variation.  There are, I think, no examples in history of 
such groups/parties with roots within the 4th International.  
Usually, they have something with 'Socialist' in it.  If you have a 
political party in your country with 'Socialist' & 'Workers' in it,  you 
may be pretty sure they are 4th.  The 'Worker' in the word indicates 
they have no active members that actually work for a living.  Well, if 
they work, they usually are teachers, professors etc.

On the other hand, from the end of WWII to, say, halfway the 60s, there 
have been a lot schisms etc.  Funny stories.

There are 2 interesting Trotsky biographies: the one by Isaac Deutscher, 
and one of the very best biographies I ever read, by Pierre Broué-don't 
know if that one's ever been translated into English.  Trotsky, never 
having been a Bolsh- nor a Menshevik, and always having been a category 
of his own, has written excellent book reviews.

Trotskyites have never been defending Pol Pot, nor any other 
Stalinist/Maoist regime.  They do, however, like to party.  They were 
also pretty experienced in forging money during the Algerian war.

My memory may not be functioning very well, but I think Vargas Llosa, in 
'The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta', makes more or less the same mistakes.

Michel.