SKILL
Arguably, one of the most crucial factors to Stalin’s rise to power was his skill; his cunning ideas
became successful through unpredictable method to gain support.
-Though he was not an intellectual like Trotsky, he had the social skills and support of the lower
classes due to his background in poverty. (Raised in Gori, gave him support of peasants and
workers, as they knew he would act in their best interests due to their similarities)
-Cunning ideas; such as the isolation of Lenin during his recovery, as he prevented Lenin’s wife,
Nadezhda from relaying information with the other party members. He did this with the excuse
that Lenin needed rest to recover from his injuries.
-He told Trotsky the wrong date for Lenin’s funeral, so he personally appeared as the right-hand
man of the father of the revolution; which was exposed through propaganda (Pravda), Stalin’s
newspaper agency where he had a heavy influence upon, which was sold to over 10 million
people. This made him seen as Lenin’s right-hand man, and a candidate for power, while
diminishing Trotsky’s perceived image, as people saw how he disrespected the father of the
revolution by not attending his funeral
THE GREY BLUR (APPEARANCE)
-His roles in the Bolshevik party by 1924; such as; Peoples Commissar for Nationalities, Liaison
Officer between Politburo and Orgburo, Head or Workers and Peasants inspectorate, General
Secretary of the Party, were unimportant and repetitive, leading other political candidates to
underestimate his power
-Stalin’s epithet was dull and unenthusiastic; which led him to become known as the Grey Blur.
-The lack of charisma led to party members underestimating his power, as he used
unpredictability to his advantage
“Stalin stayed out the limelight, blending in but everywhere at once, no member of the
Politburo could prepare for the task on taking on a foe with such a knack for reading other
people”- Richard Pipes
Arguably, one of the most crucial factors to Stalin’s rise to power was his skill; his cunning ideas
became successful through unpredictable method to gain support.
-Though he was not an intellectual like Trotsky, he had the social skills and support of the lower
classes due to his background in poverty. (Raised in Gori, gave him support of peasants and
workers, as they knew he would act in their best interests due to their similarities)
-Cunning ideas; such as the isolation of Lenin during his recovery, as he prevented Lenin’s wife,
Nadezhda from relaying information with the other party members. He did this with the excuse
that Lenin needed rest to recover from his injuries.
-He told Trotsky the wrong date for Lenin’s funeral, so he personally appeared as the right-hand
man of the father of the revolution; which was exposed through propaganda (Pravda), Stalin’s
newspaper agency where he had a heavy influence upon, which was sold to over 10 million
people. This made him seen as Lenin’s right-hand man, and a candidate for power, while
diminishing Trotsky’s perceived image, as people saw how he disrespected the father of the
revolution by not attending his funeral
THE GREY BLUR (APPEARANCE)
-His roles in the Bolshevik party by 1924; such as; Peoples Commissar for Nationalities, Liaison
Officer between Politburo and Orgburo, Head or Workers and Peasants inspectorate, General
Secretary of the Party, were unimportant and repetitive, leading other political candidates to
underestimate his power
-Stalin’s epithet was dull and unenthusiastic; which led him to become known as the Grey Blur.
-The lack of charisma led to party members underestimating his power, as he used
unpredictability to his advantage
“Stalin stayed out the limelight, blending in but everywhere at once, no member of the
Politburo could prepare for the task on taking on a foe with such a knack for reading other
people”- Richard Pipes
