If revolution is the locomotive of history, then democratic revolutions are the express trains of democracy. It is worth noting that the Stalinists and many varieties of Trotskyists reject democratic revolution. According to their 'iron law of stages', democratic revolution is not possible in an advanced country. They think that, since the UK has already had a democratic revolution, it has passed the historic stage when such revolution is possible. Therefore, insofar as democracy can be extended, democratic reform is the only possible method.
Democratic revolution is ruled out.
This is why we accuse them of being democratic reformists. We contrast revolutionary methods to legal-constitutional, reformist methods. The revolutionary struggle to extend democracy involves the mass use of force to decide the issue. Mass demonstrations, strikes, general political strikes and armed uprisings also constitute the use of force. This in turn requires the organisation of self-defence against the violence of the state.