Assess why Stalin was able to Rise to Power after Lenin’s Death?
His positions within the party
After the 1917 revolution, Stalin had acquired 4 seemingly insignificant posts, but due to
changes in the communist party, they had all become incredibly important by the time of
Lenin’s death.
Due to his positions, Stalin could monitor party policy and personnel, was in charge of
regional officials, and as he was the general secretary for the party, he was able to build up
what were essentially blackmail files against all of his opponents.
Due to these positions, Stalin was able to ensure that his own supports were
promoted/given important roles.
This was called patronage, and it ensured that he would have support for his decisions and
policies throughout the party.
As such, he was always able to outvote and outmanoeuvre his opponents.
This was the most important way in which Stalin was able to rise to power, as not only did it
mean he had leverage over other incredibly high-ranking officials, but he also had support
throughout the different levels of central and Bolshevik government. As such, he could
manipulate decisions and people at all levels to ensure that it put him in a good position to
take power.
The Lenin Enrolment is important but is really just a continuation on this.
His opportunism – Lenin’s funeral and the attack on factionalism
Stalin was incredible opportunistic and was able to manipulate several situations to his
advantage and consolidate his power.
For example, in 1921, Lenin issued his ‘attack on factionalism’, in which he denounced
infighting amongst party members in an attempt to get rid of any criticism of his own NEP
policy – which was widely controversial between the right, who wanted to continue the NEP,
and the left, who wanted to abandon or modify it.
As such, it became very difficult to form any legitimate opposition within the party.
Stalin was able to use this to his advantage, as he could accuse anyone who opposed him of
disobeying Lenin’s command.
During Lenin’s funeral, Stalin was able to present himself as his natural successor as he gave
the eulogy and, to his luck, Trotsky – his main opponent for control of the party – was
absent.
Although important, as he is able to manipulate the situations to his advantage – for
example, being able to present himself to the public as Lenin’s successor - and therefore
gave him an advantage, it is not at all as significant as his positions within the party.
What happened to Lenin’s testament – luck?
In 1922, Stalin wrote his ‘testament’ in which he declared that Stalin wasn’t fit to be in
power.
However, as he was becoming increasingly ill, he wasn’t politically active and so by his death
in early 1924, it hadn’t been published nor had Stalin been removed from power.
It wasn’t published largely due to the other Bolshevik party members wanting to protect
their own reputations, as the testament had criticised a great many of them.
His ability to exploit rival party members’ political views.
His positions within the party
After the 1917 revolution, Stalin had acquired 4 seemingly insignificant posts, but due to
changes in the communist party, they had all become incredibly important by the time of
Lenin’s death.
Due to his positions, Stalin could monitor party policy and personnel, was in charge of
regional officials, and as he was the general secretary for the party, he was able to build up
what were essentially blackmail files against all of his opponents.
Due to these positions, Stalin was able to ensure that his own supports were
promoted/given important roles.
This was called patronage, and it ensured that he would have support for his decisions and
policies throughout the party.
As such, he was always able to outvote and outmanoeuvre his opponents.
This was the most important way in which Stalin was able to rise to power, as not only did it
mean he had leverage over other incredibly high-ranking officials, but he also had support
throughout the different levels of central and Bolshevik government. As such, he could
manipulate decisions and people at all levels to ensure that it put him in a good position to
take power.
The Lenin Enrolment is important but is really just a continuation on this.
His opportunism – Lenin’s funeral and the attack on factionalism
Stalin was incredible opportunistic and was able to manipulate several situations to his
advantage and consolidate his power.
For example, in 1921, Lenin issued his ‘attack on factionalism’, in which he denounced
infighting amongst party members in an attempt to get rid of any criticism of his own NEP
policy – which was widely controversial between the right, who wanted to continue the NEP,
and the left, who wanted to abandon or modify it.
As such, it became very difficult to form any legitimate opposition within the party.
Stalin was able to use this to his advantage, as he could accuse anyone who opposed him of
disobeying Lenin’s command.
During Lenin’s funeral, Stalin was able to present himself as his natural successor as he gave
the eulogy and, to his luck, Trotsky – his main opponent for control of the party – was
absent.
Although important, as he is able to manipulate the situations to his advantage – for
example, being able to present himself to the public as Lenin’s successor - and therefore
gave him an advantage, it is not at all as significant as his positions within the party.
What happened to Lenin’s testament – luck?
In 1922, Stalin wrote his ‘testament’ in which he declared that Stalin wasn’t fit to be in
power.
However, as he was becoming increasingly ill, he wasn’t politically active and so by his death
in early 1924, it hadn’t been published nor had Stalin been removed from power.
It wasn’t published largely due to the other Bolshevik party members wanting to protect
their own reputations, as the testament had criticised a great many of them.
His ability to exploit rival party members’ political views.
