Ideological debates and issues in the leadership struggle Flashcards

NEP and industrialisation; 'permanent revolution' versus 'Socialism in One Country'; how and why Stalin became party leader and the outcome for the other contenders

1
Q

what was the debate over the NEP

A

the NEP was a radical divergence from Marxist theory as it allowed private enterprise
Lenin’s successors had to decide whether it was to be abandoned as quickly as possible or to stick to it to build the economy before full socialism

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2
Q

Who was on the left

A

Trotsky
Zinoviev
Kamenev

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3
Q

Left opinions on the NEP

A

immediate abandonment of the NEP as it created class divides e.g. NEPmen and kulaks
wanted to resume grain requisitioning and to industrialise rapidly

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4
Q

rights opinions on the NEP

A

NEP allowed to continue and socialism would develop gradually
NEP provided economic stability and kulaks were useful as could buy consumer goods to help industries grow

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5
Q

who was on the right

A

Bukharin
Tomsky
Rykov

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6
Q

Stalin’s opinions on the NEP

A

1921 approved of the NEP as it helped feed the country and deliver industrialisation necessary for communism
1928 clear the NEP had failed and Stalin abandoned it
tactical to hold power

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7
Q

why was the debate over world revolution

A

marxist theory said it was impossible for socialism to survive in one country so Russia needed to trigger revolutions in other countries
revolutions in Germany and Hungary had been crushed and the Russo-polish war blocked the revolutionary way to the West
Comintern had not been very successful

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8
Q

Lefts opinions on world revolution

A

wanted world revolution as Russia’s proletariat was too underdeveloped and revolution in other countries could provided resources for Russia to transition to socialism

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9
Q

Rights opinions on world revolution

A

wanted socialism in one country as they thought the Russian people were capable and able to solve their own problems and build a workers state
thought world revolution would threaten the security of the USSR

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10
Q

Stalin’s opinions on world revolution

A

supported socialism in one country as it appealed to Russian nationalism
led Bukharin to believe he also supported the NEP

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11
Q

why Stalin became party leader - position in the party

A

central position as general secretary allowed him to place his supporters in key positions
Lenin enrolment 1923-1925 allowed Stalin to add 500,000 new members to the party who now all owed loyalty to him

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12
Q

why Stalin became party leader - cult of leninism

A

Stalin was placed in charge of the arrangements for the funeral
Stalin made the funeral a state occasion with adoration for Lenin and Lenin’s body embalmed and placed on public view
Leninism turned into religion with Stalin as the high priest
Trotsky was absent making him less popular

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13
Q

when did Trotsky have an opportuity to challenge Stalin and why didnt he

A

Trotsky had the opportunity to challenge Stalin at the 13th party congress in May 1924 as fears over Stalin’s control of the bureaucracy was growing
Trotsky hesitated as he was nervous of being blamed for causing a split in the party and Stalin had the support of K and Z

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14
Q

when did Z and K attack Stalin and why was it unsuccessful

A

14th congress December 1925 K+Z launched attack on Stalin however was difficult as had been allied with him and were painted as factionalists

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15
Q

Why did divisions between Stalin and Bukharin arise

A

food shortages in 1928 heightened criticism of the NEP
Stalin began using harsh measure in the countryside and advocated for rapid industrialisation causing division between him and Bukharin
Stalin did not want to share power

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16
Q

how Stalin remained in the golden middle

A

January 1925 when Trotsky was forced to resign from peoples commissar for war Z+K wanted to expel him from the party but Stalin rejected this to seem moderate
managed to separate himself from Bukharin’s extreme position on the NEP

17
Q

how Stalin’s policy helped him win

A

move to supporting rapid industrialisation not the NEP in 1928 when there were food shortages and the NEP was being criticised
13th party congress 1924 debates over socialism in one country or world revolution were intense and the mood of the party was moving towards Stalin’s view that stability in the USSR was more important

18
Q

when was Stalin declared Vozhd

A

December 1929

19
Q

example of Stalin putting supporters in key positions

A

Molotov - assistant general secretary

20
Q

When was Trotsky defeated

A

Central committee meeting January 1925 Trotsky was forced out of his post as commissar for war

21
Q

When did Stalin ally with Bukharin and why

A

1924 after 13th congress as K+Z became frustrated that they could not control Stalin

22
Q

How was the left Z K and T fully defeated

A

K+Z were pushed to join Trotsky 1926 after their attack on Stalin
October 1927 central committee voted to expel T,Z and K from the CC then expelled from party altogether as Stalin and Bukharin had unbuilt majorities in party committees

23
Q

what was the literary discussion

A

1926 war of words fought by the main contenders with books and pamphlets

24
Q

who won the war on words and why

A

Stalin
his line appealed to the majority of party members

25
Q

when was Bukharin outvoted and why

A

Bukharin mounted strong defence of the NEP but congress of 1929 saw him outvoted by Stalin’s supporters and the left of the party

26
Q

when was the right defeated

A

November 1929 B, R and T were removed from politburo and other party bodies

27
Q

what was the duumvirate and what did it do

A

alliance between Stalin and Bukharin
virtually ran the country 1926-1927

28
Q

what did Z and K do after Stalin won the power struggle

A

gave in to Stalin but lost their high posts and place in politburo

29
Q

What happened to Rykov

A

sacked and replaced by Molotov in 1930

30
Q

How many of the contenders for power lived beyond 1940

A

only Stalin