“Stalin Won Because Trotsky Lacked a Power Base”: How Far Does This Statement Explain Why Stalin, Rather Than Trotsky, Succeeded Lenin as Leader of the Soviet State?
“Stalin won because Trotsky lacked a power base”: How far does this statement explain why Stalin, rather than Trotsky, succeeded Lenin as leader of the Soviet State?
A power base is the source of a person’s organisation power or influence. The statement “Stalin won because Trotsky lacked a power base” does not explain the actual reasons as to why Trotsky did not succeed Lenin as the leader of the Soviet state. Trotsky had the most powerful power base in Russia at the time which was that he had control of the Red Army. Stalin on the other hand had control of the politburo which was still powerful but when it came down as to who was more powerful it was no doubt the power base of Trotsky. After Lenin’s death in 1924, there were 5 main possible candidates for the leader of the Bolshevik Party: these including Stalin, Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin. However, the two that were in contention for Lenin’s position were Trotsky and Stalin. There were many reasons why Stalin succeeded Trotsky to become the leader. Firstly, Stalin created the Triumvirate with Kamenev and Zinoviev. Secondly Stalin made sure that Lenin’s Testament was not published within the party. Lastly he was the main speaker in Lenin’s funeral where as Trotsky didn’t attend the funeral. However this is all what Stalin had done he, on the other hand Trotsky lacked leadership skills. The main reason why the party members disliked Trotsky was because Trotsky called them “Radishes”. Lenin's enrolment, the defeat of Trotsky and the defeat of the Left and Right, all contributed toward Stalin becoming leader of the USSR, it was not only Stalin's power base. When Lenin’s death occurred most would have thought it obvious that Trotsky would succeed him. He was behind the planning of the November Revolution, he led the Red Army to victory in the Civil War, and he was Lenin’s good friend. Trotsky was the only party member who could rival Lenin as a speaker and writer. There were many reasons why
A power base is the source of a person’s organisation power or influence. The statement “Stalin won because Trotsky lacked a power base” does not explain the actual reasons as to why Trotsky did not succeed Lenin as the leader of the Soviet state. Trotsky had the most powerful power base in Russia at the time which was that he had control of the Red Army. Stalin on the other hand had control of the politburo which was still powerful but when it came down as to who was more powerful it was no doubt the power base of Trotsky. After Lenin’s death in 1924, there were 5 main possible candidates for the leader of the Bolshevik Party: these including Stalin, Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev and Bukharin. However, the two that were in contention for Lenin’s position were Trotsky and Stalin. There were many reasons why Stalin succeeded Trotsky to become the leader. Firstly, Stalin created the Triumvirate with Kamenev and Zinoviev. Secondly Stalin made sure that Lenin’s Testament was not published within the party. Lastly he was the main speaker in Lenin’s funeral where as Trotsky didn’t attend the funeral. However this is all what Stalin had done he, on the other hand Trotsky lacked leadership skills. The main reason why the party members disliked Trotsky was because Trotsky called them “Radishes”. Lenin's enrolment, the defeat of Trotsky and the defeat of the Left and Right, all contributed toward Stalin becoming leader of the USSR, it was not only Stalin's power base. When Lenin’s death occurred most would have thought it obvious that Trotsky would succeed him. He was behind the planning of the November Revolution, he led the Red Army to victory in the Civil War, and he was Lenin’s good friend. Trotsky was the only party member who could rival Lenin as a speaker and writer. There were many reasons why