Ideological Debates and Issues in the Leadership Struggle Flashcards
What had the party become split over from 1921
economic policy
what did Lenin introduce in 1921
the New Economic Policy
how was NEP seen
it was a radical divergence from Marxist theory because it allowed private enterprise to continue
What did Lenin say about NEP
it was a necessary compromise, to be implemented ‘seriously and for a long time’.
who wanted to abandon NEP
the ‘left’, led by Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev
who wanted NEP to continue
the ‘right’, led by Rykov, Tomsky and Bukharin
what was Stalin’s attitude toward NEP
it was inconsistent, fluctuating from, a left-leaning position up to 1925, then support for the continuance of the NEP up to 1928, finally switching back in 1928 to 1929 to a policy of replacing the NEP with a revolutionary surge towards rapid industrialisation and collectivization of agriculture
what ideological issues overshadowed other debates
the question of world revolution
what did all theories of Marxism-Leninism assume
that it was impossible for a revolution to survive in a single country
why was it seen the revolution could not survive
the capitalist countries would gang together and strangle the revolution at birth
how was Marxist theory contradicted by events
the revolutions in Germany, Hungary and elsewhere were crushed
what blocked the revolutionary way to the west
defeat in the Russo-Polish war in 1920
what did Trotsky and the Left still hold when it came to their ideology
the line of permanent revolution - maximum support should be given to the Comintern in fomenting revolution across the world until a truly socialist society was achieved everywhere
what pragmatic view did Stalin take in 1923
Socialism in One Country
what was the idea of socialism in one country
that Bolshevik Russia should aim to build a worker’s paradise in the Soviet Union as an example to the world
what did Stalin establish by 1924
a central position in the party leadership
what enabled Stalin to entrench his position
Lenin’s funeral
what was Stalin’s role at the funeral
he was placed in charge of arrangements
how did Stalin use the funeral to his advantage
he seized the opportunity to promote the cult of Leninism by making the funeral a state occasion, marked by reverend adoration for the Great Leader
what did Stalin insist
that Lenin’s body was embalmed and placed in public view
where was Trotsky
absent - far away in Sukhum on the Black sea, convalescing from a serious bout of influenza
what did Trotsky’s failure to attend Lenin’s funeral do
it gave Stalin a political advantage
why had Stalin’s ambitions gone unnoticed
due to the pressing concern to stop Trotsky
what happened as Trotsky’s position weakened
perception of Stalin changed and the Triumvirate began to fall apart
what was seen as the perfect occasion to move against Stalin
the Thirteenth Party Congress in May 1924
what did Trotsky do at the Thirteenth Party Congress
he hesitated because he was nervous of being blamed for causing a split in the party, possibly because he thought there would be a better opportunity later.
who did Stalin have the support of in the Congress
Kamenev and Zinoviev protected Stalin from criticisms arising from Lenin’s testament.
what was the issue with Trotsky
he was not a natural conspirator like Stalin; he lacked an instinct for bureaucratic infighting, or the patience needed to mobilise his supporters or win political allies until it was too late
who did Stalin have the support of
Vyacheslav Molotov (the assistant General Sec)
Lazar Kaganovich (first sec of the party in Ukraine)
Kliment Voroshilov
Sergei Kirov
what has Robert Service said about Stalin
‘Stalin demanded efficiency as well as loyalty from the gang members. He created an ambience of conspiracy, companionship and crude masculine humour. In return for their services he looked after their interests’.
When did tensions grow within the party
after the thirteenth party congress of 1924
why did tensions grow
Kamenev and Zinoviev became frustrated by their failure to control Stalin
who had become an ally of Stalin against the others
Bukharin
where was the mood of the party moving towards
Stalin’s view that stability within the USSR was more important than ‘reckless adventures’ fomenting revolution abroad
what did many disagree with Bukharin over
his enthusiastic support for peasants ‘enriching themselves’
where was Stalin able to place himself
in the ‘golden middle’, avoiding extreme positions
what happened to the balance of the party
it was swinging further away from Trotsky
what happened at the central committee in January 1925
Trotsky was forced out of his post as People’s Commissar for War
What did Zoniviev propose about Trotsky
he should be expelled from the party
who rejected Zinovievs proposals
Stalin rejected them
why did Stalin reject Zinovievs proposals
he wanted to maintain his moderate image
what did the absence of Trotsky do
the triumvirate became even more fractious; Kamenev and Zinoviev opposed Stalin in the Central Committee in September 1925 and the battle lines of the power struggle were redrawn at the Fourteenth Party Congress in December 1925
what did Kamenev and Zinoviev do at the Fourteenth Party Congress in December 1925
they launched a direct attack on Stalin
what happened to Zinoviev and Kamenev when they tried to oppose Stalin
they were easily painted as factionalism endangering the security of the USSR at a precarious time
what was the result of Zinoviev and Kamenev being labelled as factionalists
they were pushed toward joining their former enemy Trotsky
what did Bukharin and Stalin form
the duumvirate, that was virtually running the country in 1926 and 1927
What happened in mid-1926
Kamenev, Zinoviev and Trotsky formed the united opposition
what was the literary discussion
a war of words fought out by the main contenders in a flood of books and pamphlets
why did the war of words benefit Stalin
Trotsky did not win the war of words as he had expected; Stalin’s line appealed to a majority of party members.
what did Stalin face
continuous criticism and, in December 1926, his frustrations led him to offer to resign as General Secretary.
what was Stalin blamed for in 1927
the crushing of the Chinese Communists in Canton and Shanghai
What did the Central Committee decide to do in October 1927
expel Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev from the committee
what happened in November 1927
Trotsky and Zinoviev were expelled from the party altogether
what happened at the Fifteenth Party Congress in December 1927
the expulsions were confirmed and dozens of other oppositionists were expelled also
why did the Duumvirate appear secure and harmonious
the two families lived near each other and their private relations between them were friendly
Why did political tensions begin to emerge in 1928
Stalin’s long term aims did not extend to sharing power
what did Russia face at the beginning of 1928
a serious food shortage
why was there a food shortage
the regime had difficulty buying enough grain from peasant producers.
what did the food crisis lead to
it intensified dissatisfaction with the NEP among party members keen to see Russia industrialize more quickly
why was Bukharin criticised
he was seen as ‘soft’ on the peasant question
what did Stalin want to do
he was in favour of tough action to compel the peasantry to increase grain supplies
what did Stalin personally supervise in January and February 1928
stern measures against the peasants in western Siberia
how did Stalin make the decision to implement measures against peasants in Western Siberia
he did it unilaterally, without discussing it with Bukharin
what was Stalin preparing
the way for a rapid surge in industrialisation - what later became the first five-year plan
what did Bukharin protest again
‘excesses; by officials
what happened with Bukharin’s protest
he expected other party leaders to support him, but they did not
what did Stalin and Bukharin clash repeatedly over
Bukharin’s numerous speeches and articles in favour of ‘sensible’ policies made little impact. Bukharin was now isolated and vulnerable to Stalin’s attacks
what was Stalin reverting from
the golden to the middle to radical revolutionary policies in many areas
what revolutionary policies did Stalin adopt
war in the countryside against the ‘kulaks’, sudden and rapid industrialisation, even a new emphasis on interventionist foreign policies and aggressive support for the Comintern
what were Stalin’s policies followed by
increasing severity through 1928 and into 1929. Bukharin ceased to be a partner and became an enemy, along with other ‘rightists’
who were the other ‘rightists’
Rykov and Tomsky
what had happened to Bukharin by February 1929
he was desperate enough to consider making an alliance with Trotsky
did Bukharin form an alliance with Trotsky
no, but Stalin was aware of the contact with them
what happened to Bukharin in April 1929
he was deprived. of several of his government posts, including editorship of Pravda; in November 1929, he was expelled from the politburo
What did Stalin do in December 1929
Stalin made a speech that revealed the harsh nature of the policies he now intended to follow
what was happening to the bolshevik party
the era of Stalin the Reovluointary was over; the era of Stalin the Desport was just beginning
what happened to the Bolsheviks of the 1920s
of those who contended for power in the 1920s, Stalin was the only one to live beyond 1940. The rest died through violence, on Stalin’s orders
what did many of the old bolsheviks try to do
reconcile themselves to Stalin’s rule by making humiliating confessions of past errors and accepting subordinate positions in the party
What did Zinoviev and Kamenev do in 1928
they gave into Stalin, but they lost their high posts and their place in the Politburo
what happened to Rykov
he was sacked and replaced by Molotov in 1930
what happened to Tomsky
he was removed from his role with the trade unions
What did Bukharin do in November 1930
he admitted ‘his mistakes’ in a desperate effort to preserve some limited influence in the Party. He hated Stalin but still retained faith in the revolution and could not make a complete break from it
what did Stalin do to his old rivals
he neither forgot nor forgave his former rivals. He set about purging any remnants of opposition.
how did Stalin purge his old rivals
in a series of arrests and show trials in the later 1930s
what happened to the legacy of the old Bolsheviks
the memory of their contribution to the Bolshevik revolution was systematically expunged by the falsification of the documentary or photographic record of their place in history
what was the fate of Zinoviev
he submitted to Stalin in 1928; he was expelled from the Party in 1932; executed after a show trial in 1936
what was the fate of Kamenev
he submitted to Stalin in 1928; he was expelled from the Party in 1932; executed after a show trial in 1936
what was the fate of Tomsky
forced out as leader of the trade unions in 1929, removed from Central Committee in 1934, killed himself in 1936 to avoid trial and execution
what was the fate of Rykov
expelled from the politburo in 1930, removed from Central Committee in 1934, executed after a show trial in 1938
what was the fate of Bukharin
he was expelled from the Politburo in 1929; rehabilitated in 1934; executed after a show trial in 1938
what was the fate of Trotsky
he was expelled from the party in 1927; exiled in 1929; murdered by one of Stalin’s agents in 1940
