Who was best suited to be a ruler of Russia?

Question 1

Who are all the Russian rulers?

Answer 1

1. Alex II
2. Alex II
3. Nic II
4. Provisional Government
5. Lenin
6. Stalin
7. Khrushchev

Question 2

What are the 3 key themes in writing an essay comparing who was best prepared to be ruler of Russia?

Answer 2

1. Education
2. Personality
3. Experience/ family background

Question 3

Who was best and worst prepared in terms of education?

Include counter arguments.

Answer 3

Best: Alex II and other Tsars as high-class education, brought up to lead a nation

Worst: Khrushchev with least formal education. This arguably reflected in his poor policies as ruler for example the push to plant maize meant only 1/6 of 85 mil acres harvested ripe.

HOWEVER: Tsars’ formal education did not equip them with handling the complaints of the lower classes e.g. peasants, and push to industrialise from Western education organised worker opposition leading to downfall. [Link to experiences]

Moreover Nic II not trained well in war (Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes) and a weak leader generally, controlled by Tsarina controlled by Rasputin lost respect of court - education did not do him much good

Question 4

Who was best and worst prepared in terms of personality?

Answer 4

Best: Lenin - pragmatic as used Land and Workers Control Decrees as propaganda, brought in ‘War Communism’ during civil war, capitalism (e.g. 75% of Russian retail taken on by private entrepreneurs) in New Economic Plan

Worst: Stalin - his rigidity stuck Russia in 5 Year Plans which destroyed its economy and was impossible for Khrushchev to unravel.

Khrushchev - unstable, banging shoe on table at UN conference, looked down on by rivals, removed from power

HOWEVER: Stalin kept control by being ruthless, utilising terror, and creating a ‘cult of the individial’

Other worst: the Tsars - Alex II’s liberalisation then jump back to repression set stage for his assassination (Somerset paradox), and Nicholas was too weak a leader

Question 5

Who was best and worst in terms of experience/ family background?

Answer 5

Yes: Tsars born to rule, Alex II had some experience of ‘real ‘life’ as met political exiles while touring Siberia.

But: Tsars also lost power - communists such as Lenin and Stalin had lived in provinces (Stalin the son of a cobbler) and had travelled and experienced the realities of Russia - more informed rule.

So: Yeah the Communists were better suited, although Khrushchev’s lack of political experience does not make up for his experience of ‘real life’, hence his removal

Question 6

Conclusion on who was best prepared?

Answer 6

While Tsars ostensibly had better preparation, but lacked experience and knowledge of true Russia, plus Nicholas had a weak personality - Alex II the best of bunch.

Communists, namely Lenin (experience, some education, amd pragmatism) and then Stalin (bc too rigid) were better suited, with Khrushchev the least suited despite his origins and thus experience to benefit his rule.