Historian Sheila Fitzpatrick has also questioned the premise of historical inevitability presented by conservative critics such as Robert Service in that the Soviet Union would have experienced the same "totalitarian despotism under Trotskyist rule". Fitzpatrick suggested it was implausible that Trotsky like Stalin would have launched an anti-semitic campaign after World War II or initiated the Great Purges. Rather, she inferred that Trotsky would presumably have provided good leadership during the Second World War but may have struggled to maintain party cohesion as seen during the succession struggle after 1924.
historian sheila fitzpatrick has also questioned the premise of historical inevitability presented by conservative critics such as robert service in that the soviet union would have experienced the same "totalitarian despotism under trotskyist rule" fitzpatrick suggested it was implausible that trotsky like stalin would have launched an anti-semitic campaign after world war ii or initiated the great purges rather she inferred that trotsky would presumably have provided good leadership during the second world war but may have struggled to maintain party cohesion as seen during the succession struggle after 1924