Ideology and nature of leadership

Question 1

How had Lenin created a power vacuum?

Answer 1

in Marxist ideology power was meant to be shared collectively, not by a single dominating leader - there was no mechanism for choosing a new leader

Lenin proved to be a forceful, personable reader - it was hard to imagine a future without a single figure of authority.

Question 2

How had Lenin’s dictatorship been justified?

Answer 2

A single ruler was necessary to safeguard Bolshevik rule during the civil war and after the chaos of the revolution.

Those who argued against a single leader were fearful of Trotsky coming to power

Question 3

How had Lenin’s ideological stance impacted the power struggle?

Answer 3

Lenin’s leadership was shaped by his Marxist beliefs - e.g refused to power share with “bourgeoise elements”

Question 4

Examples of Lenin’s beliefs impacting his policy

Answer 4

“no bourgeoise elements” - refusal to compromise with Mensheviks during the Provisional government era

1921 - Ban on factions

Question 5

What was the impact of Lenin’s changes to Marxism?

Answer 5

Creation of the ideology “Leninism-Marxism”

Question 6

How does Lenin’s dictatorship style cause a power vacuum and struggle?

Answer 6

Refused to admit errors or mistakes - strengthened his authority as a single leader and established idea that the party could never be wrong.

Question 7

How was this idea of a single authoritarian leader cemented?

Answer 7

1921 Ban on Factions - complete loyalty to a single leader and obedience to the “party-line” - clashes with idea of party democracy

Question 8

Define “party democracy”

Answer 8

Party democracy not like normal democracy - all Bolsheviks supported dictatorship over proletariat and suppression of rival parties.

Party democracy meant allowing dissent and debates within inner circle of party elite.

Question 9

What had Lenin become by 1924?

Answer 9

Dominant, seemingly irreplaceable leader

Question 10

What were 3 major issues of future policy that were undecided?

Answer 10

Would party democracy replace centralised control and to what extent?

How would the economy be organised - NEP or collectivisation?

How would the USSR interact with foreign capitalist countries?

Question 11

Why was Lenin so ill by 1924?

Answer 11

He had several strokes

Question 12

What is the timeline of his 3 strokes?

Answer 12

May 1922: First stroke - retires from active politics

Dec 1922: Second stroke

March 1923: Third stroke

Question 13

When does Lenin die?

Answer 13

January 1924

Question 14

After his strokes, who were his “minders” and what were their roles?

Answer 14

His wife Krupskaya and his sister Maria Ulyanova

They were in charge of looking after him and transmitting his wishes to the party - by his final months he couldn’t speak

Question 15

During Lenin’s illness, what does Stalin try to do?

Answer 15

Use his position as General-secretary to get as close to Lenin as he could

Question 16

After Lenin’s death, what immediately happens?

Answer 16

His coffin displayed in the Red Square

Petrograd renamed Leningrad

Stalin begins the cult of personality surrounding Lenin - e.g statue of Lenin built in every city

Question 17

During Lenin’s illness, what government institution emerged as the most powerful?

Answer 17

The Politburo - in order to win the leadership you would need a majority; a battle for support within the party ensues

Question 18

What was Lenin’s testement?

Answer 18

Lenin’s wishes of what would happen to the Party after he dies - addressed to the CC (Central Committee)

Written in the year before his death

Question 19

What was meant to happen to his testament?

Answer 19

Meant to be read out to the 13th Party Congress in May 1924

Question 20

Why was it kept secret from the rest of the party?

Answer 20

Highly critical of the main contenders for party leadership, especially Stalin.

Question 21

What were some positives about Trotsky in Lenin’s testament?

Answer 21

Said Trotsky was:
“most capable man in the CC”
had outstanding abilities

Question 22

What were some negatives about Trotsky in Lenin’s testament?

Answer 22

Said Trotsky was:
arrogant
too willing to use violence
excessively pre-occupied with admin work

Question 23

What was said about Zinoviev and Kamenev in Lenin’s testament?

Answer 23

Accuses them of disloyalty due to the “October episode” but says they aren’t to blame for it

Question 24

What is the “October Episode” referring to here?

Answer 24

Zinoviev and Kamenev voting against the armed uprising in 1917

Question 25

What are some positives about Bukharin in Lenin’s testament?

Answer 25

Said Bukharin was:
“the Darling of the party”
“most valuable theorist in the party”

Question 26

What was a negative about Bukharin in Lenin’s testament?

Answer 26

Bukharin could only be “with the greatest doubt be regarded as fully marxist”

Question 27

Finally, what is said about Stalin in Lenin’s testament.

Answer 27

Nothing positive:
Lenin accuses Stalin of impatience and rudeness “too coarse”, becomes “intolerable as General-Secretary”

Lenin suggests Stalin be removed from his post and appointing someone “more loyal…polite and considerate”

Question 28

What could be some context behind Lenin’s criticisms of Stalin?

Answer 28

Georgia during the civil war

Stalin’s phone call with Krupskaya

Question 29

What post was Stalin appointed in the civil war?

Answer 29

Commissar of Nationalities

Question 30

What was the event that occurred in Georgia?

Answer 30

When the Red Army moves to seize Georgia, Stalin tells party colleagues Georgia had been won back from the Mensheviks by a popular uprising in support of the Bolsheviks.

It was found out he had lied - there was no uprising and Stalin had crushed Georgian independence movements with brute force.

Question 31

What was the reaction to this from Lenin and Trostky?

Answer 31

Fierce criticism

Question 32

What was the event with Stalin and Krupskaya?

Answer 32

Lenin’s wife (Krupskaya) was working as Lenin’s secretary during his illness.

Stalin had discovered that Lenin was communicating with Trotsky over the future of the party and tried to see Lenin.

Krupskaya would not let him - Stalin berates her over the phone, bringing her to tears

Question 33

What is Lenin’s response to Stalin berating his wife?

Answer 33

He is furious

Question 34

What is one way Stalin consolidates his position?

Answer 34

1924 - initiates the Lenin Enrolment, where 128k join the party. These new people were likely to support Stalin as he could appoint them better paying jobs as General Secretary.