Statistical analysis of trotskyist group names

Basic material
I have used the party names listed on Leftist parties of the world under the heading Trotskyist parties (though excluding groups listed under sub-heading Ex-trotskyists). Only the English translation of the names has been used. I have made no difference between international and national organisations. A few names actually referring to publications not groups are included. !umber of group names in the material" Average number of words in name (including %of& %for& etc)" Average number of letters i group names" #$# '.#( #$

Frequencies of words
!umber (and percent) of groups that have the word in its name Ideological/political )ocialist*socialism .evolutionary 1ommunist*communism 2eft 3rots4yist 5arxist*5arxism 6emocracy*democratic Alternative 5ilitant*militants 8olshevi4 E9uality 2eninist +$ (# /, /0 /( // /7 + 0 $ ( # (', -) (/0 -) (0 -)

:ustice Orthodox )olidarity - / each Organizational words ;arty 2eague =roup 1ommittee Organi>ation Opposition 3endency Association 5ovement $< #0 /, /( // < < ( ( (## -) (// -) (0 -) (< -)

1urrent ?action @nion 1ollective )ecretariat

' ' ' # #

Aanguard 1enter ?orum ?ront 1ircle ;latform 1oalition !etwor4 B / each International etc. International as adCective '/ International as noun #7 Of which: ?ourth International Dor4ersE International 1ommunist International Internationalist /$ Class Dor4er(sE) 2abo(u)r ords of action etc. Alternative 1onstruction ;ower Action )truggle 2iaison 3urn @nity 1onvergence 2iberation .esistance + 0 0 ( ( ' ' ' # # # ,/ ' ('# -) (/# -) (, -) /$ ' #

1onstruction 1ounter-attac Initiative Offensive ;reparation .egeneration .esistance )hift @nified B / each !y"#ols etc. )par4 Appeal 2iberty .ed Aoice ( # # # #

8eginning 1ause 1larity 1riticism ?reedom 5ole October ;erspective ;ioneer )ic4le*hammer 3ribune 3ruth Dord B / each

Conclusions and comments

3he trots4yist movement has to a large extent disbanded the communist label in favour of socialist as dominating ideological reference probably to avoid confusion with maoist and pro-soviet groups and parties. !ot surprising is %International& in different forms among the most popular wordsF no other political current has made international organisation more central. Even groups more or less without friends in other countries have set up their own %Internationals& to this end. Even if %party& is the most common organisational term there are a lot of alternative designations such as %organisation& %league& and %tendency& a fact that maybe reflects the difficulties of most trots4yist groups to gain a more substantial membership and popular support. 3he most typical trots4yist group name could be argued to be %)ocialist Dor4ersE ;arty&. 3here are /< different organisations with this name in the material (some of them with additional attribute as %.evolutionary )D;&. In spite of the large number of trots4yist groups there are still name combinations available such as" %.evolutionary Internationalist Organi>ation& %)ocialist .evolutionary =roup& %International .evolutionary ;arty& )ome potential names might be impressing in full length but less so when abbreviated and therefore disregarded for example %)ocialist E9uality 1o-ordination 3endency& or %International 6emocratic Initiative for the Organi>ation of 3rots4yist )ocialists&.