Ideological debates and issues in the leadership struggle

Question 1

What were the views of the Left and Right opposition to the NEP and Stalin’s view?

Answer 1

Left = abandon the NEP (Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev)

Right = continue the NEP (Bukharin, Tomsky and Rykov)

Stalin = inconsistent, left leaning until 1925 then right leaning until 1928 until again wanting to abandon NEP in 1928/29

Question 2

What was the Left opposition’s view towards world revolution and Stalin’s?

Answer 2

Left = follow Marxist-Leninist theory by committing to a ‘permanent revolution’ meaning that Comintern would be fully supported in spreading revolution across the world

Stalin = followed ‘Socialism in One Country’ whereby Bolshevik Russia should build a workers paradise as an example to the world, this would be a compromise much like the NEP (more support than permanent revolution)