Contenders for power Flashcards
Who were the 7 main contenders for power?
Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Bukharin, Rykov, Tomsky
Character of Trotsky
Extraordinary organisers, a man of action e.g. proved in civil war and revolution, arrogant, dismissive of people he deemed to be of lower ability, unwilling to involve himself in boring party matters, bound to illness at times of crisis
Strengths of Trotsky
Brilliant intellectual and theorist
Energetic man during revolution and civil war
Second in power- influence to Lenin
Formidable political skills and ruthlessness
Weaknesses of Trotsky
Old Bolsheviks were suspicious of Trotsky as he had been a late converter as he was previously a Menshevik
Underrated Stalin
Made no attempt to build support within the party
Attacked party bureaucracy in a time he needed their support
Stalin’s character
Reputation for being a man of violence
Hard working
Regarded the “Son of a cobbler” with a basic education when he in fact had a wide knowledge on how to expand the party machinery
Kept long term aims hidden
Strengths of Stalin
General Secretary- easily gained loyalty
Worked hard to master Leninism and Marxism
Underrated- good at concealing intentions
Deliberately placed himself next to Lenin
Bolshevik from beginning
Lenin named him “the wonderful Georgian”
Weaknesses of Stalin
Could be crude and violent e.g. actions as People’s commissar of nationalities
Minor role in 1917 revolution as was overshadowed by Trotsky and Bukharin
Stalin’s colleagues knew that Lenin had turned against him- testament
Character of Kamenev
Played an important role in 1917 but fell out with Lenin in Nov 1917 and briefly resigned from party. He was one of first members of politburo and was deputy chairman of council of people’s commissar
Strengths of Kamenev
Good at managing people and situations
Acted in a partnership with Zinoviev
Important player for collective leadership but lacked ambition to be sole leader
Supported by Lenin as he was an Old Bolshevik and Lenin entrusted him with personal papers- he had a great influence
Strong support base in Moscow
Good ability to get things done
Weaknesses of Kamenev
Too closely linked to Zinoviev who was more popular
Reputation for inconsistency
Under-estimated rivals like Stalin
Known to be too soft
Character of Zinoviev
Member of politburo, spokesmen for Central committee and head of comintern
Strengths of Zinoviev
Lenin’s closest friend- high in favour
Made a series of speeches highlighting the differences between Leninism and Trotskyism to make sure Trotsky would not emerge as leader
Party boss in Leningrad and had a strong political base there
Weaknesses of Zinoviev
Opposition to Lenin over timing of Bolshevik coup in 1917
His short resignation in 1917 held against him
Under-estimated rivals like Stalin
Left it too late before leaving Troika and supporting Trotsky
Character of Bukharin
Impressive and likeable
Associated with right of party
Worked closely with Stalin until Stalin became jealous of popularity
Intelligent within Politburo
“Darling of the party”
Editor of Pravda
Disagreed with Lenin over ending WW1 and NEP
Strengths of Bukharin
Popular close to both Stalin and Trotsky
Best theoretician
Expert on economies and agriculture at the time when peasants were a concern
