[3] The journal gained a reputation for its inclusive approach to the history of Trotskyism, having a wide representation of Trotskyist groups on its board, which, at one point, even included a representative of the Socialist Workers Party.

Initially focusing on the obscure or unpublished Trotskyist sources from the Balkans, Scandinavia, and Southern and Eastern Asia, it later broadened its scope, covering such topics as the history of the communist movement in France.

[3] The editorial board was staffed by several well known Trotskyists including Edward Crawford and Paul Flewers,[6] the former of whose archived correspondence as editor of Revolutionary History is held at the University of London's Senate House.

[3] In 2018 the journal’s editorship issued a statement via its Facebook page stating that the publication was floundering due to a lack of direction and failure to adapt to a contemporary audience.

[12] In an exchange with its editor Richardson, the Marxist historian Ian Birchall once criticised the journal for not living up to its motto, quoting the lyrics of the song Bill Bailey to suggest it was too sectarian.