Several controversies have arisen in recent weeks around how key historical figures are popularly remembered. These controversies reveal that historical memory cannot be separated from contemporary class struggles.

We publish here the second part of Adam Booth’s article about the role of the individual in history. In this second half, Adam examines the pivotal role played by Lenin and Trotsky in the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the dialectical relationship between leaders and the masses. The real lesson of history is that a revolutionary leadership is vital in order to transform society.

100 years ago, the masses in Russia took power. This revolutionary event, however, would not have been possible without the bold leadership of Lenin and Trotsky. In this sense, the role of the individual at certain points in history is vital. Adam Booth explores the Marxist view of history and the role of individuals in determining the course of historical events.