To what extent could it be argued that Trotsky was responsible for his own failure to win the leadership struggle?

Question 1

IDEOLOGY

Answer 1

‘Permanent Revolution’ — and he was awaiting the international phase after October
 Commissar for Foreign Affairs — 1918 Brest-Litovsk ‘neither war nor peace’ resulting in more
costly and humiliating peace, castigated by Lenin, the Party and the nation. But became
Commissar for War but this would damage him in the future to be seen as a traitor
 Stalin’s ‘socialism in one country’ — appealed more to Bolsheviks than ‘permanent
revolution’.

Question 2

TACTICS

Answer 2

mistrust because of constant changing political opinions and enthusiastically embracing previously discredited ideas eg ‘democratic centralism’ post-Civil War
 the 1904 split from Mensheviks — opportunist?
 pursues his objective and ignores opinion, hence resentment eg post-Civil War militarisation
of labour, the recognition of trade unions as part of government
 questioning Lenin’s decisions — Stalin did not
 not realising the importance of some decisions eg ban on factions
 devoting time to writing, not Government. Criticising others, causing some to question his
loyalty
 1924 November — Stalin’s speech ‘Leninism or Trotskyism’ result — Trotsky seen as
anti-Leninist.

Question 3

Missed opportunities

Answer 3

that Stalin took all opportunities to further establish himself, by the time of his appointment as General Secretary in 1922, he was in the three leading areas of the Party — The Politburo: the Orgburo: and the Secretariat. He built up loyalty through appointments, Trotsky did not
 Trotsky’s arrogance led him to reject posts because of work overload, allegedly. And this could have been a genuine attempt to make him second in command
 no attempt to come back from isolation, frequent absence from Government
 not attending Lenin’s funeral — misled by Stalin or not
 not challenging Stalin — over the Georgian question and at the time of Lenin’s Testament, in
both arrogance or naivety cost him dear.

Question 4

Party’s fear of Trotsky

Answer 4

e talent of ‘the pen’ resulted in him being feared and seeming stubborn and arrogant
 ruthlessness in the Civil War
 demand for dictatorial policies — reminiscent of Bonaparte, whose power base had also been
the army
 conversely Stalin was much more appealing — the team player who they all knew.
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Other contenders
 candidates would discuss the merits of Stalin and indeed the other players, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin and Rykov, in as much they detract support from Trotsky.

Question 5

FIGES

Answer 5

Trotsky and émigré revolutionaries ‘tended to be … international and cosmopolitan in their outlook’

Question 6

PIPES

Answer 6

‘Stalin was in an unrivalled position that assured his future career for some time before Lenin’s death’

Question 7

D VOLKOGONOV

Answer 7

of Trotsky’s isolation ‘Stalin’s campaign was greatly assisted by Trotsky himself’. Indeed, he describes this as the ‘decisive event leading to Trotsky’s defeat’

Question 8

C WARD

Answer 8

socialism in one country’ appealed to most people.