The Russian Revolution, which took place 107 years ago, stands as the only time in world history that workers took power and created, however temporarily, a completely new mode of production. That shining epoch offers many enduring lessons for today’s revolutionaries — including the Bolsheviks’ reliance on democratic-centralist organization and their intolerance of reformism within their ranks.

This is the conclusion of our two-part series on the upcoming US election. Part one detailed the theoretical and historical reasons why Marxists refuse to support capitalist political parties under any circumstances. Part two tackles some frequently asked questions about our position, especially in light of the threat posed by Trump.

Soldiers are often seen as willing agents of the state and class traitors much like cops. Revolutionary history and Marxist class analysis show otherwise. Enlisted soldiers are in fact workers in uniforms, and their radical potential is crucial to building a revolutionary movement.