How Did Lenin Gain Power

Following the death of Lenin, the Bolshevik Party become complicated by personality clashes and a power struggle between senior party members. The ambiguity of Lenin’s will paved the way for the apparent heir to seize power, sparking conflict between Trotsky and Stalin. The ensuing struggle for power triggered fierce disputes over the economy and the question of succession was reflected in battles between the dominant right and left wing. Despite Trotsky’s standpoint as unofficial deputy to Lenin, Stalin was able to seize the role through his notion of socialism in one country which portrayed facets of both patriotism an rejuvenation, and was a core factor in his increased popularity amongst the Soviets. Stalin’s ability to manipulate and
manoeuvre key political figures and the pubic allowed him to seize role as head of the party in 1929.
Lenin’s death in 1924, lead to the collective leadership of Russia by the politburo. During Lenin’s rule, he was heavily critical of all his party members including Trotsky who many considered to be the “unofficial deputy”. Lenin’s vilification of the party members ensured however that there were no clear successors, and the period after his death was to be characterised by a power struggle between the heirs. The joint party leadership in the 13th ensemble was implemented to ensure that the any individualistic interests of party members was abolished, and instead Russia was lead by a collective ruling group. Lenin had initially valued Stalin’s practical nature, but later supported Trotsky, believing that Stalin would be incapable of holding onto power. However Trotsky’s excessive self-assurance and absorption in administration meant that he was not a man of the people consequently weakened his supremacy. At the time of Lenin’s death, Trotsky held the position of commissar for War, and was internationally
recognised as the leader of the October revolution. He took responsibility for the victory during the civil war and held immense national prestige. Stalin, together with Zinoviev and Kamenev, formed the ‘troika’ in an attempt to establish a strong ruling group and prevent Trotsky from seizing power. While Trotsky’s failed to view Stalin as a threat, Stalin was effectively developed his own support base, while eroding any support Trotsky had. In addition Trotsky’s absence at Lenin’s funeral allowed Stalin to deviously manipulate the public opinion and was used as evidence for the rift between Lenin and Trotsky. Stalin was seen as the chief mourner, delivering the testament which portrayed Stalin as to Lenin’s choice of leader. Hence the sequence of events which unfolded following the death of Lenin were crucial factors during the struggle for power.
The debate about modernisation within the Bolshevik party triggered a conflict between key senior party members and was a crucial element of the power struggle between Trotsky and Lenin. The central issue for the government was to build socialism and according to Marx socialism could only survive and develop in “conditions of abundance”. Government was faced with the enormous challenge of modernising Russia in order to create the economic conditions under which the revolution could be fully consolidated and socialism established. Trotsky was keen on upholding Lenin’s theory of “permanent revolution” and believed that their revolution would spark revolution elsewhere and with the establishment of likeminded Socialist states in Europe, Russia’s economic state would improve. However the domestic political and social instability from the civil war meant that members in the party lost their motivation to pursue to such a huge feat of world revolution. Pipes characterised his theory as “unpopular, less patriotic and economically impractical” in the views of the politburo and the people. The first clash between Trotsky and the Troika came in the “scissors crisis “ of 1923, and caused a fall in agricultural goods, while industrial goods were rising. The Troika gave priority to the recovery of the peasant sector, financing the growth of industry from the growing wealth of the peasants and from their increasing amount of purchased goods. However Trotsky argued that the priority should instead be given to industry and the Proletariats. Stalin’s theory of ‘socialism in one country’, was more suitable to the economic, social and political atmosphere of the time. It resulted in rapid industrialisation and in addition lead to self-sufficiency within Russia. The short term benefits of Stalin’s theory lead to his increased popularity amounts the Soviets. Thus the debate of modernisation was the crux in the power struggle between Trotsky and Stalin, where his gain in support in the party helped him consolidate his role as head.
Stalin’s ability to establish a expansive support network within the party as General secretary, paved the way for his victory during the power struggle.
In 1922, Stalin was elected as the Central Committee General Secretary, which instigated his power. Trotsky considered this position as mundane holding little political authority, however Stalin was able to fully exploit the position to exert enormous influence over the party membership. He become the only member to simultaneously held positions in the politburo, the Orgburo and the secretariat. He was able to elect members that would support his ruled help elevate him to the head of the party. Stalin appointed many young and inexperience members to the party, allowing him to easily manipulate as well as having a greater appreciation to Stalin for his employment of them. Thus people felt an obligation towards helping him extend his power. Trotsky however did not exploit his potion as commissar for the red army emphasising how Stalin’s cunning and opportunism helped him to gain power within the party. After establishing a support network Stalin began to abolish his rivals and any source of threat. Stalin’s troika were able to successfully defeat Trotsky at the 13th party congress when Trotsky raised objections to the growing centralisation and bureaucratisation of the party. Stalin soon formed an alliance with the right wing of the party, including Bukharin, and Rykov. The Right began to gradually be opposed by the Party’s
left, with Zinoviev and Kamenev forming a partnership with Trotsky. The Right wing fought to keep the NEP, while the left provided opposition and claimed that the policy had been introduced only as a temporary measure, with its continuation to result in capitalism. Stalin used his charisma to arrange the party members, accusing the left wing of factualism and expelling them from the party in 1925. He defeated the right wing and began the removal of key political figures. By 1929 Stalin had triumphed in the leadership struggle, and was now in total control and positioned himself to pursue his policy for modernisation. Hence Stalin’s manipulative nature allowed him to eliminate his enemies, establish a support base and exercise total control over the government.
The power vacuum left by Lenin in 1924 paved the way for Trotsky and Stalin to compete for the leadership for the party. Trotsky’s arrogance, intellectual snobbery and fixation on MARxist ideals lead to the loss of support for the party, leading to his expulsion. This left Stalin to seize the role as head, and paved the way for his socialist policies.