The power vacuum and power struggle Flashcards
What Tributes were paid to Lenin after his death in 1924?
His coffin was displayed in the Red Square and crowds of people queued to pay their final respects
The Politburo decided to preserve his body and place it in a mausoleum on Red Square
A cult of personality developed - Petrograd was renamed Leningrad
Lenin’s statue was built in every Russian city and children were named after the Communist leader
When did the power struggle begin and why?
Even before Lenin’s death - due to his declining health (May 1922 he had the first of a series of strokes that left him unable to work and by mid 1923 it was obvious he wouldn’t return to government
What happened because there was no one obvious successor?
A collective leadership was established to govern Russia so from 1922-1929 a relentless struggle for supremacy was waged by Politburo leaders
What was Lenin’s leadership based on?
His personality and his authority - he had respect of his colleagues so he was leader because he was Lenin not because of official positions
Why was the Politburo significant in the power struggle?
It had emerged as the most powerful part of Government so it was key to power in the SU
Winning a majority on Politburo meant that winning votes at the Party Congress as this elected the Central Committee which then elected the Politburo
Why difference did the fact the SU wasn’t a democracy make?
The battle for leadership was a battle for support within the party not a battle for support within the SU
When was Lenin’s testament written?
A year before his death
Who were the notes addressed to and what did they say?
Addressed to the Central Committee and were highly critical of the main contenders for power
What did the testament say about Trotsky, Stalin, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin.
Accused Trotsky of arrogance and of being too willing to use violence
Accused Stain and impatience and rudeness and suggests he should not be allowed big positions of power
Remined the CC that Z and K had been disloyal to party before October revolution
Argued B didn’t fully understand Lenin’s ideology
What happened to Lenin’s testament?
When he died his widow (Krupskaya) handed it to the politburo with the intention it would be made public in the Party Congress in May 1924 however key members of the CC declined to read it out as those criticised had persuaded their colleagues not to publish it
Why did they not want to read out Lenin’s testament?
They would all be damaged by its contents so it was therefore surpressed
What did Lenin’s death in January create?
A power vacuum - opened the way for the power struggle
In Marxist ideology what is power meant to be?
Supposed to be shared by a collective leadership not held by any single dominating leader so there was no mechanism for such a leader to be chosen - Lenin had been forceful leader = hard to imagine different
Why had the previous single leader position held my Lenin been justified and what did people want now ?
In order to safeguard the Bolshevik rule during the civil war but was no longer required after 1924 - wanted collective leadership of a committee of equals (mainly advocated by those fearing Trotsky)
What had Lenin’s role as leader been shaped by?
His Marxist ideological beliefs (which had made him refuse any ‘power sharing’ with ‘bourgeois elements’) and also by the events and pressure of revolution. leading to changed In the implementation of Marxism-Leninism and therefor ideological debates after his death
When did the power vacuum appear to take shape?
Didn’t begin suddenly after Lenin’s death - began to take shape in 1922 - when Lenin had become incapacitated following his first stroke
What was the Triumvirate?
Consisted of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin. formed in 1922-23 - formed to block the ambitions of Trotsky and prevent the ascendance of Trotsky
What was Stalin’s role in the Triumvirate?
He was general secretary and was unpopular and underrated by his colleagues but was central in these alliances.
Who was influential in countering the left?
Bukharin
Other personalities such as Rykov, Tomsky and Radek were involved in this unacknowledged power struggle
When did Lenin become incapacitated?
Lenin suffered three strokes
May 1922
December 1922 left him unable to speak and partially paralysed
December 1922 - bed ridden and unable to speak
Was sidelined from politics until his death in January 1924 but was still a powerful presence - had minders to transmit his wishes to the Party leadership e.g. his wife, sister and Stalin who tried to remain in personal contact
What was Lenin’s testament and why was it written?
It was a political will setting out his view of future dangers - attempted to guide transition of new leadership from beyond the grave
Written because the ambitions and rivalries of those around him alarmed Lenin
What were two reasons why Lenin criticised Stalin in his testament?
During civil war Lenin appointed Stalin as Commissar of nationalities - Stalin told the party Georgia had been won back from the Mensheviks by a mass uprising for the Bolsheviks supported by the Georgian people - he was criticised when it was discovered he crushed Georgian independence by force
Stalin also insulted Lenin’s wife after finding out Trotsky was in contact with Lenin, Stalin wanted to see him but Krupskaya refused
What did nothing in Lenin’s testament do?
Endorse anyone as his successor - if it had been made public at the 1924 party congress as he intended it would have had a dramatic impact on the power struggle
What was the testament used as later in the power struggle?
As ammunition and a dangerous secret that could be used.
