AS FP3 : Divisions and contenders for power. Flashcards
Stalin
What was Stalin’s character like?
As a person Stalin had a reputation as a man of violence and an incredibly hard worker. He had a vast knowledge of the expanding party bureaucracy, and used his position as General Secretary to establish a Nomenklatura. Though often crude, he could be aimeable and friendly towards his allies.
Stalin
What were Stalin’s weaknesses?
- Most of his colleagues saw him as crude and violent ; this image was accentuated by the criticism of him by Lenin
- Played a minor role in the 1917 revolution and was overshadowed by those of greater prominence or popularity.
- Stalin’s colleagues knew Lenin had turned against him
Stalin
What were Stalin’s strengths?
- Stalin held the crucial position of general secretary when the Party Bureaucracy was expanding rapidly ; he was good at gaining the loyalty of trusted subordinates.
- Underestimated by his opponents
- Deliberately placed himself near Lenin during his time of sickness.
- Triumverate alliance.
Trotsky and the left
What was Trotsky’s character?
Trotsky was an extraordinary organiser and a man of action. He was also an exceptional ideologist and theoretician. He held both power and prestige ; regarded as the second most important person in the party in 1924.
Trotsky and the left
What were Trotsky’s weaknesses?
- Arrogant and aloof
- Many Bolsheviks feared Trotsky as the war commissar
- Many Bolsheviks were suspicious of Trotsky as a previous Menshevik
- Underestimated Stalin
- Made no serious attempt to build a base of support
- Often fell ill
- Made serious errors in judgement
Trotsky and the left
What were Trotsky’s strengths?
- Brilliant intellectual and theoretician
- Man of actions, very involved in civil war and 1917 revolution
- Formidable political skills, ruthless authority and organisational ability.
Trotsky and the left
What was Kamenev’s character like?
- Capeable and intelligent
- Lacked the ambition and ruthlessness for rule
- Had a reputation for flip-flopping between alliances.
Trotsky and the left
What were Kamenev’s weaknesses?
- Reputation for inconsistency
- He was too closely linked with Zinoviev who was much more popular than him
- Many regarded him as too ‘soft’
- Seriously underestimated Stalin
Trotsky and the left
What were Kamenev’s strengths?
- Respected as an ‘old Bolshevik’
- Had a power base in Moscow
- Regarded as thoughful
Trotsky and the left
What were Zinoviev’s weaknesses?
- Opposition to Lenin in October Revolution held against him
- Seriously underestimated Stalin
- Left it too late before switching his support to Trotsky
Bukharin and the Right
What were Bukharin’s strengths?
- Popular with the party, close with both Trotsky, Lenin and Stalin
- Widely regarded as the best theoretician in the party
- Expert on economics and agriculture.
Bukharin and the Right
What were Bukharin’s weaknesses?
- Had no power base
- Underestimated Stalin
- He made tactical mistakes such as waiting too long to make alliances.
Bukharin and the Right
What were Rykov’s weaknesses?
- Overshadowed
- Lacked a power base
- Oppposed Lenin during the October Revolution
- Underestimated Stalin
Trotsky and the left
What were Zinoviev’s strengths?
- Power base in Leningrad
- Respect as an old-bolshevik
- High in Lenin’s favour
Bukharin and the Right
What were Rykov’s Strengths?
- Respected for his status as an ‘old bolshevik’
- Administrative ability
- Extensive support from Sovnarkom
