Chapter 10 - Ideological debates and issues in the leadership struggle 1924-29 Flashcards
How did the Left believe industrialisation should happen?
Wanted to abandon the NEP in favour of state-controlled rapid industrialisation funded by ‘squeezing’ the peasants
Who led the Left?
Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev
How did Stalin believe industrialisation should happen?
His attitude was inconsistent
During his struggle against Trotsky he opposed the Left and supported the NEP
Once Trotsky was no longer a threat, in 1928-29 he shifted to a policy of replacing the NEP with rapid industrialisation and the collectivisation of agriculture
How did the Right believe industrialisation should happen?
Believed the NEP should continue, with the peasants becoming richer and the state using taxes on the peasants to fund gradual industrialisation
Who led the Right?
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky
Why did all theories of Marxism-Leninism assume it was impossible for revolution to survive in a single country? What did this mean for Russia?
Because the capitalist countries would gang together and strangle the revolution at birth
It was not just desirable but essential for the Bolshevik revolution to trigger a chain reaction of other revolutions
Who argued for ‘permanent revolution’ and what did they believe?
Trotsky and the Left
The USSR couldn’t survive on its own without support from other socialist countries so revolution must constantly be encouraged in Europe to make sure this support was fostered
Lenin had made this argument many times and Stalin had written about it too
Who argued for ‘socialism in one country’ and what did they believe? What was this belief used to do?
Developed by Stalin in 1924
The USSR could build socialism on its own without support from other socialist states
He referenced an old article by Lenin that said one country could show the rest of the world the benefits of socialism and other countries would follow
He used this argument to criticise Trotsky for contradicting Lenin and dismissing the USSR’s potential
What were the key events in Stalin’s rise to power?
- Lenin’s funeral
- Lenin’s Testament being sidelined
- Trotsky criticises Kamenev and Zinoviev for not backing Lenin in 1917
- Kamenev and Zinoviev criticise Stalin for his move to the Right and support for the NEP
- Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky form the United Opposition
- Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky are expelled from the Party
- The regime faces a grain procurement crisis
- Bukharin criticises the ‘excesses’ of officials following Stalin’s methods
- Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky are expelled from the Politburo
Lenin’s funeral
When did it happen?
What happened?
Jan 1924
Stalin took charge of arranging the funeral and styled himself as Lenin’s disciple.
Tried to make the most of Trotsky’s absence
Lenin’s Testament is blocked from being read at the 13th Party Congress
When did it happen?
What happened?
May 1924
Leading contenders (excluding Bukharin) criticised so blocked the reading of it
Trotsky chose not to insist on the reading going ahead
Trotsky critcises Kamenev and Zinoviev for not backing Lenin in 1917
When did it happen?
What happened?
October 1924
Stalin stayed out of the fight on the Left
The criticism weakened his rivals while he appeared moderate and brought in more supporters to the Central Committee
Kamenev and Zinoviev criticise Stalin for his move to the Right and support for the NEP at the 14th Party Congress
When did it happen?
What happened?
December 1925
Stalin’s support meant that every vote at the Congress went against Kamenev and Zinoviev
‘Socialism in one country’ became very popular
Stalin and Bukharin formed the Duumvirate
Importance of the ‘Duumvirate’
Largely ran the country in 1926-27
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky form the United Opposition
When did it happen?
What happened?
1926
When they tried to organise demonstrations against him he was able to accuse them of factionalism
