Stalin's Russia
Stalin’s Russia, 1924-53
The leadership struggle * Russia wasn’t a democracy * Struggle wasn’t about winning popularity with the people * Influence was very important * Lenin was leader as party respected him could count on the loyalty of most party members
The contenders:
Leon Trotsky * Most obvious contender * Heroism during revolution and Civil War * Organised October Revolution and commanded Red Army * 1917-22 Lenin’s right-hand man * Radicalism, strong personality, history made him attractive to students and young members * Had respect of Red Army * Not universally supported, only joined party in mid 1917, not proper communist * Many feared radical ideas, Pragmatists thought he would lead to further war
Zinoviev and Kamenev * Lenin’s closest friends * Lots of respect as long standing communists * Moderate had support of pragmatists * Trotsky said they were too cautious * Prior Oct Rev they criticised Lenin for planning to overthrow PG * Trotsky said at crucial moment been cowards and disloyal to Lenin * Criticised during Civil War stayed well away from fighting and lived in luxury
Bukharin
* Bought bravely in revolutionary period in 1917 * Managed press and organised propaganda during Civil War * Friendly and honest personality made him very popular * Lenin publicly showed faith in him by making him party theorist * Well known he disagreed with Lenin on theoretical issues in 1916, showed not true Leninist * Too young? * Supported NEP vigorously, made him unpopular with radicals as NEP betrayal communism
Stalin
* Least likely candidate * Fulfilled important administrative function during Civil War, less public and less glamorous. * Not outstanding speaker or intellectual, couldn’t compete with Trotsky or Bukharin here * See as safe candidate, was a centrist, sensible and practical politician
The issues
Economic
* RW
The leadership struggle * Russia wasn’t a democracy * Struggle wasn’t about winning popularity with the people * Influence was very important * Lenin was leader as party respected him could count on the loyalty of most party members
The contenders:
Leon Trotsky * Most obvious contender * Heroism during revolution and Civil War * Organised October Revolution and commanded Red Army * 1917-22 Lenin’s right-hand man * Radicalism, strong personality, history made him attractive to students and young members * Had respect of Red Army * Not universally supported, only joined party in mid 1917, not proper communist * Many feared radical ideas, Pragmatists thought he would lead to further war
Zinoviev and Kamenev * Lenin’s closest friends * Lots of respect as long standing communists * Moderate had support of pragmatists * Trotsky said they were too cautious * Prior Oct Rev they criticised Lenin for planning to overthrow PG * Trotsky said at crucial moment been cowards and disloyal to Lenin * Criticised during Civil War stayed well away from fighting and lived in luxury
Bukharin
* Bought bravely in revolutionary period in 1917 * Managed press and organised propaganda during Civil War * Friendly and honest personality made him very popular * Lenin publicly showed faith in him by making him party theorist * Well known he disagreed with Lenin on theoretical issues in 1916, showed not true Leninist * Too young? * Supported NEP vigorously, made him unpopular with radicals as NEP betrayal communism
Stalin
* Least likely candidate * Fulfilled important administrative function during Civil War, less public and less glamorous. * Not outstanding speaker or intellectual, couldn’t compete with Trotsky or Bukharin here * See as safe candidate, was a centrist, sensible and practical politician
The issues
Economic
* RW