Power Vacuum and Power Struggle

Question 1

What did Marxist-Leninist ideology suggest should happen with power?

Answer 1

That is should be shared by a collective leadership and not held by any single, dominating leader

Question 2

How did this reflect in the mechanisms for electing a leader?

Answer 2

There were no mechanisms for a leader to be appointed however Lenin as a leader made it hard to imagine future without a single figure of authority

Question 3

What belief did the 1921 ban on factions clash with?

Answer 3

‘party democracy’ - allowing dissent and debates within inner circle of party

Question 4

Why was the future of the Party so uncertain upon Lenin’s death?

Answer 4

Political ambitions and intense ideological issues
Issues concerning extent to which party democracy should replace the centralised control that had developed under Lenin, unresolved direction of policy

Question 5

What was Lenin’s testament?

Answer 5

‘Political will’ setting out his view of future dangers, supposed to be rad out a congress, laid out Lenin’s doubts of all potential successors

Question 6

Who was Lenin particularly harsh about in his testament?

Answer 6

Stalin, due to his brutal actions in crushing dissent in Georgia and because he had recently insulted Lenin’s wife

Question 7

Who convinced colleges not to publish testament?

Answer 7

Stalin, Kamenev and Zinoviev

Question 8

How was Lenin’s testament used politically?

Answer 8

as ammunition in the following power struggle

Question 9

Strengths of Stalin?

Answer 9

Crucial position as General Secretary, allowed him to gain support of trusted subordinates and give promotions
Mastered Marxism-Leninism
Underated
Concealed his intentions
Placed himself close to Lenin during time of illness, able to claim he knew what Lenin wanted

Question 10

Weaknesses of Stalin?

Answer 10

Most saw him as crude and violent, accentuated by Lenin’s criticisms
Only a minor role in 1917 revolution, overshadowed by Trotsky and Buhkarin
Colleagues knew Lenin had turned against him

Question 11

Strengths of Trotsky?

Answer 11

Intellectual, inspiring speechmaker
Man of action during revolution + Civil War, second only to Lenin
Formidable political skills

Question 12

Weaknesses of Trotsky?

Answer 12

Feared by Bolsheviks due to Red Army
Slow to convert from a Menshevik to a Bolshevik, held against him, ‘Old Bolsheviks’ suspicious
Disliked for his arrogance
No serious attempt to build support
Inconsistent (against triumvirate and then joins Kamenev and Zinoviev)
Errors in judgement (attacking Party Bureaucracy when he needed its support)

Question 13

Strengths of Kamenev?

Answer 13

‘Old Bolshevik’ - respected, close to Lenin
Strong power base in Moscow
Intelligent, able to get things done

Question 14

Weaknesses of Kamenev?

Answer 14

Reputation of inconsistency + opportunism, against Trotsky originally and then joins him 
Zinoviev more popular
Opposed 1917 revolution
Underestimated rivals 
Though of as too 'soft'

Question 15

Strengths of Zinoviev?

Answer 15

‘Old Bolshevik’
High in Lenin’s favour - “closest and most trusted”
Party boss in Leningrad gave strong power base

Question 16

Weaknesses of Zinoviev?

Answer 16

Opposition to 1917 revolution held against him
Underestimated rivals
He and Kamenev left it too late to support Trotsky

Question 17

Strengths of Buhkarin?

Answer 17

Popular, close to Lenin and Trotsky, in 1920s close to Stalin and was respected by him
Widely regarded as best theoretician
Expert on economics + agriculture, particularly valuable at the time

Question 18

Weaknesses of Buhkarin?

Answer 18

No power base due to lack of factional in-fighting, wanted to be on good terms with everyone
Underestimated Stalin, his popularity made him Stalin’s enemy
Tactical mistakes, too late to form alliance with Zinoviev and Kamenev

Question 19

Strengths of Rykov?

Answer 19

‘Old Bolshevik’
Administrative ability, implemented war communism and the switch to the NEP
Extensive support from Sovnarkom, elected Chairman in 1924

Question 20

Weaknesses of Rykov?

Answer 20

Not a plotter, overshadowed by Buhkarin
Ceremonial position, lacked power base
Heavy taxes on vodka made him unpopular in sections in the party
Argued with Lenin 1917- held against him
Underrated Stalin

Question 21

Strengths of Tomsky?

Answer 21

‘Old Bolshevik’
Chief spokesmen of trade unions so strong position within party
Natural ally of moderate leaders

Question 22

Weaknesses of Tomsky?

Answer 22

Hostility towards Trotsky blinded him to danger of Stalin
Purging of left wing gave huge potential power to Stalin (1926)
Support for NEP used against him when grain crisis hit economy in 1927