1923 Trotsky, in a series of essays labeled as "The New Course," bitterly criticizes the growing bureaucracy of the party and argues for greater centralized planning. Much of his hostility is directed against Stalin, whom he is said to loathe. In response, Stalin states his own position as "socialism in one country," the antithesis of Trotsky's advocacy of a world revolution.

Note: It must be pointed out that "Socialism in one country" and Hitler's National Socialism shared many common characteristics.