Section3 - Starlin's rise to power 1924-1929 Flashcards
What did Lenins Rule look like by 1924?
Lenin left behind a highly centralised state but one with many problems.
Upon his death there was no obvious successor which created a Power Vacuum + opened way for a lengthy power struggle among party leadership - making the successor of Lenin complicated but a role that needed filling.
- Thus created an internal power struggle among Bolshevik leadership as the long-term elite Bolsheviks battled it out. These were;
Trotsky, Starlin, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin, Tomsky
State the 3 Key Issues Affecting the Power Struggle
The power struggle was a lengthy + confused political process of bitter ideological disputes , personal rivalries +shifting alliances between those who regarded themselves Lenin’s successor + guardian of his legacy.
1) Leadership (should it be collective or single dictatorship?)
2) NEP (put end to it or keep it going)?
3) Party Policy/Direction of Revolution (permeant revolution or socialism in one country?)
Explain the Key issue of ‘Leadership’ in the Power Struggle
Many Party members didn’t want Dictatorship/single leadership + favoured collective leadership (running via committee)
It had become highly centralised during Civil War with Lenin making sole executive decisions but after the situation had calmed down collective leadership was perceived as the more socialist way of running state.
Many members feared dictatorship could emerge + take control of the centralised state which had developed + the individual they feared was Trotsky.
Why did Party members fear Trosky would emerge as dictator from 1924-6?
Trotsky ;
- As commander of the Red Army was in a strong position to crush opposition + use force to obtain power
- He was arrogant in manner + conviction that he knew direction party should take/policy seemed to confirm such fears.
- Members worried regarding the Unity of the Party as it was essential to remain as one/together and united if to accomplish Russia becoming socialist and didnt want any leader who may cause divisions in the party or split uo into factions. The one they feared for this was Trotsky.
Many believed i was time to abandon strong central leadership principle lenin had after all Marxism never envisaged single leadership necessary for development of socialism but they feared Troksy.
Explain the Strengths + Weaknesses of Trotsky as a contender for leadership
By 1924 regarded most important man in the party other than Lenin. Incredibly able + rivals already worried about him + worked to restrit his influence before lenins death. He had many admirers who backed him on revolutionay ideology + party deomocacy but also had rivals + many who feared him.
Strengths;
- Extraordinary organiser + action man
- Exceptional Ideologist
- Held power + prestige (both in past achievements in revolution and civil war)
- Formidable political skills + ruthlessness authority
Weaknesses;
- He was Arrogant + dismissive of anyone he saw below /lesser than
- Many Bolsheviks feared him believing hed seize power after Lenin’s death
- Made no serious attempt to build a power base of support within party and seen as inconsistent + opportunistic and could be vindictive + tended to fall at critical moments making serious errors of judgement.
Explain the Strengths + Weaknesses of Starlin in the power strugle
STARLIN - centre - Held genuine working class background + was involved with Bolsheviks since 1905 organising strikes. By 1924 he already held strong position in party as part of the 'Triumpriatuve' dominating the central committee however held reputation for violence + many regarded him as an intellectual inferior. However this underestimation meant he utilised his positions of power + vast knowledge of the expanding party to his advantage.
Strengths;
- Often rude but very patient + able to keep his eye/aims hidden and wait a long time for revenge against ppl he’d perceived as enemies + main competition.
- Held very critical positions as General Secretary when party beauacracy was expanding readily + very good at gaining the support of his subordinates.
Was underestimated by all his colleagues /opponents.
- Fear of Troksy enabled him to allied w Kamenev + Zinoviev against him.
Weaknesses;
- Colleges saw him as crude + violent + this image exacerbate w Lenin’s testing criticising Starlin’s actions of people commissars for nationalities
- Played only minor role of 1917 revolution + had overshadowing fear of others role
- Clear after Lenin’s testament colleagues turned against him.
Explain Bukharin’s strengths + weaknesses in the power struggle
Bukharin - Right wing
Bolsheviks regarded him as impressive + a brilliant intellectual + theoretician. He was highly popular with politburo colleagues + party members. Corporative + friendly but also naïve + thus unsuited to internal party fighting + power struggle.
Strengths;
- Popular within the party, close to Lenin, long time friend to Trotsky ad Starlin as he much respected him.
- Widely regarded a the best theologian in the party
- Particular expert on economics and agriculture at a time where debates about peasantry weren’t Bolshevik major concern
Weaknesses;
- Tried to remain on good terms w everyone + avoid fighting thus held no power base
- Seriously underestimated Starlin + much more popular than Starlin which made him a major target
- Made tactical mistakes and tried to make weaker alliances later on.
Explain the Strengths + weaknesses of Kamakev for the power struggle
Kamakev - Left wing
Played important role in the events of 1917 + seizure of power
Strength;
- Capable + intelligent , skilful politician and good at managing people + situations
- Closely associated w Zinoviev acted like partnership
- As one of the old Bolsheviks he was a man who’d helped the party and was close to Lenin and Lenin gave many personal papers to him
- Strong power base in Moscow
Weaknesses;
Reputation for flip flopping (changing sides too frequently)
- Like Zinoviev gained a reputation for being inconsistent + opportunistic switching alliances between starlin + trotsky
- Too closely linked to Zinoviev who was more popular than he was + many regarded him as too soft
-Once again seriously underestimated Starlin + other rivals.
Explain the strengths + weaknesses of Zinoviev in the power struggle
Zinoviev - Left wing
Held important position in highest ranks of the party w great political authority
Strengths;
Old Bolshevik + commanded respected especially due to part in revolution
Had been high in Lenin’s favour before 1924 as closest and trusted assistant
Weakness;
His opposition for Lenin over timing fr Bolshevik resolution was held against him later + in Lenin’s testament
Seriously underestimated Starlin as opposition
Switched sides too readily
Explain the Issue/Debate on the NEP + Industrial debate in the Power Struggle
Everyone agreed on need to industrialism as it = key to creating a large proletariat worker base to build socialism - the Question was how to do this in the most effective way.
From 1921 the party was split over debates about the NEP + ideological debates of Marxism + Leninism. The NEP when initially introduced sparked radical divergance from Marxist theory as it allowed private enterprise thus contradicting socialism but was acknowledged as a social relaxation to avoid relaxing politically.
The Left - Trotsky, Kamamkev + zinoviev wanted to abandon the NEP
The Right - Rykov, Tomsly + Bukarin belived the NEP should continue
Starlin - attitude very inconsistent + fluctuated from Left position up to 1925 and then for its continuation in 1928 before revering back against the NEP in 1929
But 1925-6 industry had recovered to its pre-war levels. High levels of unemployment amongst workers + wages for those didn’t keep pace of rising cost of food + consumer goods and food shortages kept reappearing - meanwhile power struggles taking place with 2 Wings completely divided on how to proceed.
Explain the Issue of ‘Permanent Revolution’ or ‘Socialism in One Country’ in the power struggle
Ideological debate overshadowing all other debates was the question of worldwide revolution.
-Theories Marxism + Leninism had assumed it impossible for revolution to survive in only 1 country as all capitalist countries would band together + strangle it from birth thus many believed essential Russia triggered worldwide rev if socialism hoped to survive long term
Trotsky - believed in Permanent revolution + convinced communist revolution wouldn’t succeed as Russian working class + economy underdeveloped + needed help from working lass across Europe
Starlin - From 1923 came to pragmatic view that there could be ‘Socialism in 1 country’ + Bolshevik Russia should aim to build a ‘workers paradise’ as example to world. The NEP = compromise due to realities of the economic situation in Russia and Socialism in 1 Country was an International compromise an this approach appealed to many who feared Trotsky + continuous revolutionary turmoil.
What power did Stalin possess by 1924?
By 1924 Starlin had established a central position in The Party Leadership as he was ‘Party General Secretary’ and this position gave him Control over some elements of the Politburo and was placed in charge of arrangements of Lenin’s funeral seizing the opportunity to promote a cult of Leninism making it a state funeral.
State what comprised Starlins Power Base
1 - Party General Secretary
2 - Position sin the Orgburo + Seretariat
3 - Control of Party Organisation
4 - Control of Party membership
Thus Starlin’s positions gave him enormous amounts of power + control over policy + positions in the Party.
State the key reasons that Starlin emerged as Sole Party Leader by 1929?
1 - Stalins Power Base
2 - Party fears concerning Trotsky + Trotsky’s Key weaknesses/mistakes
4 - Stalin’s Personality, character + Ideology
5 - Kamakev + Zinoviev’s key mistakes/weaknesses.
Explain Factor No.1 ‘Stalins Power Base’ role in why Stalin emerged as sole leader by 1929
1 - Position as Party General Secretary:
This gave control over the politburo ie drawing up agendas + papers for politburo meetings giving him control over what was discussed + what info members received.
2 - Position sin the Orgburo + Seretariat:
This gave Stalin control over the appointments to positions of power + responsibility in the party structure thus could place key supporters in high positions ie party secretatriats from regional to local party were increasingly starlings supporters thus he could virtually decide how party members voted.
3 - Control of Party Organisation:
Stalin could influence the selection of delegates whom were sent ti annual party congress where major issues of policy were decided + central committee chosen and could pack congress w his supporters eg Trotsky received harsh + hostile reception at conferences from 1924 onwards + Starlin controlled delegates wo voted the way he wanted.
4 - Control of Party membership:
Allowed him to get rid of radical elements/individuals ie students + soldiers (whom were educated and soldiers loyal to Trotsky) + instead increased peasantry party intake to 1 million! The new urban workers weren’t interested in ideological debates + more likely to do as starling wanted + his policies of nationalisation appealed to vast majority of them.
