Permanent revolution is a term within
Marxist theory, established in usage by
Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with
Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical. Marx used it to describe the strategy of a revolutionary class to continue to pursue its class interests independently and without compromise, despite overtures for political alliances, and despite the political dominance of opposing sections of society.