Stalin’s Rise to power
power struggle
Ideology and nature of leadership:
- Many in the party felt it was time to abandon the central leadership
principle and wanted collective leadership
- Power vacuum began to take place in 1922 when Lenin became
incapacitated
- 1922-1923 saw the Triumvirate of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin
established to block the ambitions of Trotsky
- Stalin was unpopular by his colleagues but central in alliances
- Other key personalities, such as Rykov, Tomsky and Radek circled the
edges of the unacknowledged power struggle
Lenin’s testament:
- Lenin’s political will which was dictated over several days in December
1922 and the postscript was added in January 1923
- Lenin cast doubt over all men who hoped to succeed him, such as
Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin
- Was particularly harsh in his criticisms of Stalin – partly because of
Stalin’s recent brutal actions in crushing opposition in Georgia and
partly because of Stalin’s recent criticisms of Lenin’s wife
- The Testament was intended to be read out at the Party Congress
after his death, but Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin persuaded their
colleagues not to publish the Testament
Stalin: The Golden Middle
strengths weaknesses
- Was underrated by his - most of his colleagues saw
opponents and good at him as violent
concealing his intentions - he only played a minor role in
- As General Secretary, he was the 1917 revolution so was
good at gaining the loyalty of overshadowed by Trotsky and
subordinates Bukharin
- deliberately placed himself - Stalin’s colleagues had read
close to Lenin in the years Lenin’s Testament so knew
1922-1923, enabling him to that Lenin had turned against
, claim he knew what Lenin him
wanted - Viewed by his more
- many of his allies regarded experienced colleagues as
him as reasonable and reliable intellectually inferior
- reputation of being a hard
worker
Trotsky and the Left:
Trotsky:
strengths weaknesses
- Seen as an extraordinary - Many feared him due to his
organiser and man of action power over the Red Army
- Exceptional ideologist and - Had been a Menshevik so
theoretician some ‘old Bolsheviks’ had
- Held power and prestige been suspicious of him
- Colleagues disliked his
arrogance
- He made no serious attempt
to build a base of support
- Seen as inconsistent and an
opportunist
- Could be indecisive
Kamenev and Zinoviev:
strengths weaknesses
- Capable and intelligent - Lacked ambition or
- Worked together as a ruthlessness to seek power
partnership Lacked ambition themselves
or ruthlessness to seek power - Gained a reputation for
themselves inconsistency through
- Kamenev had a strong power switching between Stalin and
base in Moscow Trotsky
- ‘Old Bolsheviks’ commanded - Zinoviev’s opposition to Lenin
respect from some colleagues over the timing of the
for their contribution to the Bolshevik coup was held
revolution against him
- High in Lenin’s favour before
his death,
power struggle
Ideology and nature of leadership:
- Many in the party felt it was time to abandon the central leadership
principle and wanted collective leadership
- Power vacuum began to take place in 1922 when Lenin became
incapacitated
- 1922-1923 saw the Triumvirate of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin
established to block the ambitions of Trotsky
- Stalin was unpopular by his colleagues but central in alliances
- Other key personalities, such as Rykov, Tomsky and Radek circled the
edges of the unacknowledged power struggle
Lenin’s testament:
- Lenin’s political will which was dictated over several days in December
1922 and the postscript was added in January 1923
- Lenin cast doubt over all men who hoped to succeed him, such as
Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin
- Was particularly harsh in his criticisms of Stalin – partly because of
Stalin’s recent brutal actions in crushing opposition in Georgia and
partly because of Stalin’s recent criticisms of Lenin’s wife
- The Testament was intended to be read out at the Party Congress
after his death, but Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin persuaded their
colleagues not to publish the Testament
Stalin: The Golden Middle
strengths weaknesses
- Was underrated by his - most of his colleagues saw
opponents and good at him as violent
concealing his intentions - he only played a minor role in
- As General Secretary, he was the 1917 revolution so was
good at gaining the loyalty of overshadowed by Trotsky and
subordinates Bukharin
- deliberately placed himself - Stalin’s colleagues had read
close to Lenin in the years Lenin’s Testament so knew
1922-1923, enabling him to that Lenin had turned against
, claim he knew what Lenin him
wanted - Viewed by his more
- many of his allies regarded experienced colleagues as
him as reasonable and reliable intellectually inferior
- reputation of being a hard
worker
Trotsky and the Left:
Trotsky:
strengths weaknesses
- Seen as an extraordinary - Many feared him due to his
organiser and man of action power over the Red Army
- Exceptional ideologist and - Had been a Menshevik so
theoretician some ‘old Bolsheviks’ had
- Held power and prestige been suspicious of him
- Colleagues disliked his
arrogance
- He made no serious attempt
to build a base of support
- Seen as inconsistent and an
opportunist
- Could be indecisive
Kamenev and Zinoviev:
strengths weaknesses
- Capable and intelligent - Lacked ambition or
- Worked together as a ruthlessness to seek power
partnership Lacked ambition themselves
or ruthlessness to seek power - Gained a reputation for
themselves inconsistency through
- Kamenev had a strong power switching between Stalin and
base in Moscow Trotsky
- ‘Old Bolsheviks’ commanded - Zinoviev’s opposition to Lenin
respect from some colleagues over the timing of the
for their contribution to the Bolshevik coup was held
revolution against him
- High in Lenin’s favour before
his death,
