Why was Stalin able to emerge as leader of the USSR by the 1920’s? Flashcards
Introduction
Thesis: Through control of the party machine, development of the cult of Lenin, and strategic political tactics, Stalin was able to emerge as leader of the USSR by the late 1920’s,
and begin the new Stalinist era of the USSR.
Stalin went from gray blur to undisputed dictator in a series of spectacular political takedowns.
PB1 - Control Of the party machine
Backroom bureaucrat + general secretary of the communist party (1922 - 1953) –> “Stalin had the authority to appoint and dismiss key officials within the party structure. “ Robert Conquest which allowed him to ‘stack the party’ through patronage builidng a loyal network while systematically removing all that opposed him.
-> underpinning his authority and ensuring that party decisions increasingly reflected his will.
-> heading the secretariat, he was also member of the powerful Politburo and of many other interlocking and overlapping committees
1917 -23: Commissar of nationalities –> built up contacts in far flung regions of the USSR, as his ability to deal with USSR diverse population garnered him significant influence, which through leveraging his administrative acumen and political shrewdness he gained significant support.
The other Bolshevik leaders didn’t garner the same level of internal support as Stalin, as a result, Stalin was able to gain further support, gradually isolating his rivals and consolidating his dominance within the party through his positions within the party appartus and thus form allience i.e with Zinoviev and Kamenev in 1926 to from the left colitation against Trotsky.
BP2 - Ideology/Cult of Lenin
Stalin continued to promote Lenin’s mythologised image after his death through propaganda, by ordering state media and educational materials to highlight his connection to Lenin and his supposed adherence to Leninist principles.
-> his allowed Stalin to assert himself as the successor, rather than a loyal disciple (Trotsky’s role).
Political maneuvers –> not inviting Trotsky to the funeral, while his attendence and subsequent memorial activities, presenting himself as Lenin’s closest and most faithful disciple.
-> This visibility helped to cement his association with Lenin’s legacy.
By controlling the cult he “thus framing his rivals as deviating from the true path of Bolshevism” Stephen Kotkin -> in which garnered him ideaological legitimacy while his oppostion was left discredited and margenislised, as a result making it difficult for opposition to challenge his authoirty.
Ultimately transformed this into the cult of Stalin.
BP3 - Political Finesse
TOPIC SENTENCE: Stalin’s political tactics allowed him to predict and account for change in the party, form alliances accordingly, adjust his policies and expel his enemies, therefore dominating the power struggle and emerging from it - an unrivaled dictator.
Decree against factionalism (1921) -> Stalin exploited this by accusing his opposition of factionalism -> allowing him to ‘stack the party’ with his loyal disiendents while targeting key opposition like the left colation which formed in 1928 against Stalin which would be smeared through being labled as ‘factionlists’.
Geared his ideology towards the changing socio-political landscape i.e., he read the public mood very well. E.g., changed his stance on industrialisation in response to the economic crisis of 1927.
-> Abandomnet of the NEP which was supported by Bhukarin, led to the right to be discredited and Stalin to be percived at the helm of the USSR industrialisation.
Divide and conquour:
Stalins ability to position himself as the arbiter in party debates, results in his ganurentee victory, by using his position and system of patrongage as leveage. As a result, in the ‘right turn’ 1928 he was able to isolate Trotksy and neutrilise the left wing, which his temporary shift result in him to turn against Bhukarian without the left and right forming a colitation against Stalin.
Conclusion:
In essence, Stalin was able to gain absolute power, leaving behind no-one to challenge him and a party composed of devoted proteges to support him as dictator, a situation Stalin would maintain and brutally enhance over the next 20 years as he led the USSR into the modern era.
