....(or "trotskyite"), has always mystified me. I see it often used
pejoratively, but I can't figure out from context what exactly the
insult is.
An example may clarify what I mean. When the term "fascist" is
used as an insult, I know it stands as shorthand for a constellation
of traits that includes reactionary authoritarianism, intolerance,
militarism and cult of force, nationalism and xenophobia. But when
the term "trotskyist" is used as an insult, I don't know what
exactly it stands for, even though I'm passably familiar with
Trotsky's ideas.
Part of the confusion stems from the fact that I don't understand
why one would choose the insult "trotskyist" instead of simply
"bolshevik" or "red" or "communist." In fact, I often come across
this usage in a left-wing context, where one left-wing individual
disparages another one. It is in this context that the exact
implications of the insult escape me. It could very well be that
contrary to the case with "fascist" (which, as I showed above,
stands for a collection of traits), the insult "trotskyist" means
nothing more than "partisan of an enemy faction".
I'd appreciate it if someone could clarify the matter for me.
TIA!
kynnjo
--
NOTE: In my address everything before the first period is backwards;
and the last period, and everything after it, should be discarded.
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