R3.2 Ideological Debates in the Leadership Flashcards
Who made the left during the power struggle?
Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamanev
Who made the right during the power struggle?
Rykov, Tomsky, Bukharin
Who believed the NEP should continue?
The right
Who believed the NEP shouldn’t continue?
The left
Where did Stalin sit politically?
In the “Golden middle”, he was left-leaning until 1925 and supported continuance of NEP until 1928, he switched back to replacing the NEP with rapid industrialisation and collectivisation of agriculture from 1928
What were the views on Permanent Revolution?
-Supported by Trotsky and Left
-Maximum support given to Comintern to support revolutions across world
-Support until a truly socialist society was achieved everywhere
-Did not appeal to those in the party who feared continuous revolutionary turmoil
What were the views on socialism in one country?
From 1923: Stalin believed in this
-Bolshevik Russia should aim to build “workers paradise” in Soviet Union as an example to the world
-SOIC = compromise with the realities of the international situation
-Appealed to many in the party who wanted stability
What is party democracy?
The allowing of disagreement and debates within the inner circle of the party elite, following the death of Lenin, Party Democracy centred around the 7 main contenders
What is a power base?
the source of authority in political negotiations, the power base of the Bolsheviks shifted often after the death of Lenin
What are three reasons why Stalin became party leader?
-Stalin himself
-Defeat of Left
-Defeat of Right
Explain Stalin himself as a cause for his victory as party leader…
-He established central position in party leadership by 1924
-Attended Lenin’s failure whilst Trotsky failed
-Underrated political skills
-More pressing concern to stop Trotsky
-Brutal treatment of enemies
Explain Defeat of Left as a cause for his victory as party leader…
-Stalin built up a personal following of his own loyal supporters
-Kamanev and ZInoviev’s defence of Stalin from Trotsky at 13th Party congress
-Trotsky lacked the drive for infighting
-Trotsky forced out of post as Commissar for war
-Stalin remained moderate, rejecting that Trotsky should be expelled from party
Explain Defeat of Right as a cause for his victory as party leader…
-Stalins long term plans did not include sharing power
-Bukharin was seen as “too soft” by some members of the Party, therefore Stalins harsher measures against peasants and plans were popular
-Stalin moved from Gold middle to radical revolutionary policies
What was the outcome for the other contenders?
-Expelled from party 1927 for factionalism
-Kamenev and Zinoviev criticised past actions and were allowed to re-join 1928 however lost positions and places in Politburo
Trotsky: Refused to do this and was exiled, first to Kazakhstan and then deported in 1929, lived in many countries until, 1940, he was murdered in Mexico on Stalin’s orders
Bukharin, Rkyov and Tomsky initially allowed to stay in Party after admitting mistakes
All were however executed through show trials in late 1930s, with Tomsky committing suicide before being put through the same ordeal
