Power Struggle

Question 0

What were the 5 reasons why Stalin won?

Answer 0

1. Power base - position in party
2. Popular with the people - peasant support
3. Tactical movements - right then left policies
4. Personal qualities
5. Lenin’s testimony - made Stalin look like heir

Question 1

What was the 3 main issues in the power struggle?

Answer 1

1. Leadership - collective or one leader?
2. Industrialisation - NEP - continue or end?
3. Party policy - socialism in one country or permanent revolution

Question 2

Name the 7 candidates of the power struggle

Answer 2

Stalin, Bukharin, Trotsky, Rykov, Tomsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev

Question 3

What was the ban on factionalism? And when?

Answer 3

1921 - no one could criticise the communist policies

Question 4

Who was on the left of the power struggle?
Who was right?
Who was centre?

Answer 4

Left - Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev

Right - Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky

Question 5

Who were in Triumvirate and who were they against?

Answer 5

Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky

Question 6

What were the ideas of the left?

What were the ideas of the right?

Answer 6

Left - rapid industrialisation
- permeant revolution
Right - NEP
- socialism in one country

Question 7

What positions did Stalin hold in the party?

Answer 7

Party secretary - agendas for party
Positions in orgburo and politburo - appoint members
Control of party organisation
Control of party membership
Head of Rabkrin - controls party discipline

Question 8

What is the first stage of the power struggle?

Answer 8

Lenin’s funeral

Question 9

What is the second stage of the power struggle?

Answer 9

Lenin’s testament - not revealed

Question 10

What is the third stage of the power struggle?

Answer 10

Triumvirate against Trotsky - Trotsky criticised the party for being bureaucratic

Question 11

What is the fourth stage of the power struggle?

Answer 11

1924 campaign against Trotsky

Question 12

What is the fifth stage of the power struggle?

Answer 12

Get rid of left
1925 - socialism in one country
1926 - Zinoviev, Kamenev became opposition
1927 - kicked out of party

Question 13

What is the sixth stage of the power struggle?

Answer 13

Right knocked out
Stalin knocked out NEP
Bukharin, Rykov and Tomsky remove for being capitalist

Question 14

What is the seventh stage of the power struggle?

Answer 14

1927 - Stalin wins

Question 15

Plan the question:

How far do you think Trotsky’s own misjudgements account for his failures in the power struggle following Lenin’s death?

Answer 15

1. Trotsky’s misjudgements
2. Trotsky’s weaknesses
3. Stalin’s strength in terms of skills and manoeuvring
4. Power base and support within the party
5. Personal qualities
6. Policies