Permanent Revolution vs. Socialism in One Country Trotsky believed in ‘Permanent Revolution’ and continuing the NEP. Permanent Revolution referred to energy and money going into helping the working class in other countries to stage their own revolutions, in order to support the small working class in Russia. Fighting should continue into a worldwide revolution had been achieved. Socialism in one country was about building an ideal socialist state within Russia. This was what Stalin was advocating, and he appealed to nationalism and patriotism within this method (of course Russia could be an example to other nations). It was flexible- it meant that Communist leaders could say that what they were doing was all to further socialism in one country with whatever they did, whenever they did it. Stalin’s Constitution of 1936 One of the most ‘democratic’ constitutions in the world, 5th December, 1936). Rights included:

Freedom from arbitrary arrest

Freedom of speech and the press

The right to demonstrate.

Respect for privacy of the home and personal correspondence.

Employment for all.

Universal suffrage for over-eighteens, free elections and secret ballots.

The constitution also made it clear that all these rights were subordinate to the interests of the working classes and it was the role of the Communist Party to decide what those interests were. Also, only Communists could be put up for elections in the first place. It was published as a piece of propaganda, to make clear to the international community (especially Soviet sympathisers) that the Soviet state was democratic at heart. It also promised autonomy for foreign states under Communist controls.