Struggle For Power Flashcards
Zinoviev: Pros and Cons for taking power
He was head of the Petrograd Soviet from 1918 and was close with Lenin, but he had many enemies and also voted against armed uprising in October
Bukharin: Pros Cons for taking power
He was the Editor of the Pravda and was close with Lenin, but he wasn’t a skilful politician and also opposed Lenin in his decision to make peace with Germany
What were Trotsky’s Weaknesses as a candidate for soviet leadership?
He was Jewish. He was middle class. He used to be a Menshevik. He underestimated his opponents (mainly Stalin) and was not as ruthless as necessary. The public was wary of him as he led the army, so he might pull a military coup. He also didn’t release Lenin’s Will and Testament which condemned Stalin and Kamenev and Zinoviev.
What were Stalin’s Strengths as a candidate for the soviet leadership?
He was General Secretary of the Party, so he promoted toadies and removed opponents. He grew up poor. He worked hard to make it appear that he was always a supporter of Lenin and that they were close. He created a wide base of support from the Lenin Enrolment
What was the Lenin Enrolment?
An enrolment of new party members supervised by Stalin, doubling the size of the party, and filling it with common proletariat people who were grateful to Stalin for their position and were very loyal to him.
How did Stalin promote the Cult of Lenin to cement his power?
He was the eulogist and a pallbearer at Lenin’s funeral (which he tricked Trotsky into not going to) and established himself as Lenin’s natural successor while also portraying Lenin as a godlike figure. Lenin was embalmed and displayed in Red Square. He was glorified in lectures by Stalin in universities.
Kamenev: Pros and Cons for taking power
He led the Moscow soviet and had a strong power base and was very intelligent, but disagreed with Lenin often when he was alive and voted against an armed uprising, which led to his loyalty being questioned.
What were the main features of the NEP?
- Private ownership and trading permitted
- Banks and Industry were state controlled
- Small tax placed grain requisitioning
- Peasants were allowed to sell surpluses for profit.
Why did Bukharin want to keep the NEP?
He wanted an alliance between workers and peasants. Peasants made food for the workers and bought from the industry.
Why did Trostsky want to abolish the NEP?
He resented the fact that most of the industry was not government controlled. He didn’t like the inequality in the peasantry it caused. He wanted to abolish private ownership and have collective farms.
What was the concept of Permanent Revolution?
Communism needed to spread far beyond the USSR to survive. Global revolution was needed.
What was Socialism in One Country and why was it more popular with the public than Permanent Revolution?
It focused on building the USSR as an ‘autarky’ by developing the economy internally to be self sufficient. This was popular because of the possibility of ending famine and unrest that had been happening due to instability in the country
What was ‘Stage One’ of Stalin’s rise to power?
The Triumvirate promoted the Cult of Lenin while attacking Trotsky. They convinced the party not to release Lenin’s Will. They banned party factions to silence the Left Opposition. Trotsky was forced to resign as Commissar for War, removing much of his support.
What was Stage 2 of Stalin’s rise to power?
Stalin formed a Duumvirate with Bukharin against Kamenev and Zinoviev. They were defeated as the Congress was filled with Stalin supporters so they lost their positions as head of the Moscow and Leningrad Soviets
What was stage 3 of Stalin’s rise to power?
The ban on factions was used against the ‘United Opposition’ (Trotsky Zinoviev and Kamenev), expelling/exiling Trotsky .
