struggle for power

8/8/2019 Struggle for Power

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Stalin and the Struggle for PowerStalin and the Struggle for Power

By Miss Frances Fraserwww.SchoolHistory.co.uk


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Why Did Stalin Win TheWhy Did Stalin Win The

Struggle For Power?Struggle For Power?

The Communist Party in theThe Communist Party in the

1920s, Stalins Rise to Power and1920s, Stalins Rise to Power andthe Defeat of His Rivals.the Defeat of His Rivals.


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The Communist Party in the EarlyThe Communist Party in the Early1920s1920s What Factors Influenced theWhat Factors Influenced the

Power Struggle?Power Struggle? When Lenin died he left no clear successor to lead theWhen Lenin died he left no clear successor to lead the

Communist Party.Communist Party.

Lenins Testament criticised all the leading candidatesLenins Testament criticised all the leading candidatese.g. he described Stalin as not being able to use powere.g. he described Stalin as not being able to use powerwith sufficient caution and Trotsky for excessive selfwith sufficient caution and Trotsky for excessive selfassurance.assurance.

A group of leaders emerged; a collective leadership.A group of leaders emerged; a collective leadership.

By 1929 one of these leaders, Stalin had become aBy 1929 one of these leaders, Stalin had become adominant force.dominant force.

His success was the result of a power struggle.His success was the result of a power struggle.


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Factor 1: The Ban on Factionalism.Factor 1: The Ban on Factionalism.

In 1921 a resolution was passed banningIn 1921 a resolution was passed banningall groups within the party from puttingall groups within the party from putting

forward ideas that disagreed with theforward ideas that disagreed with theofficial party policy.official party policy.

Those who showed a tolerance toThose who showed a tolerance tofactionalism could be expelled from thefactionalism could be expelled from the

party.party.


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Factor 1: The Ban on Factionalism.Factor 1: The Ban on Factionalism.

Consequences:Consequences:

This ban caused a lack of debate withinThis ban caused a lack of debate within

the party.the party. It also resulted in many expulsions: duringIt also resulted in many expulsions: during

the power struggles of the 1920s thosethe power struggles of the 1920s thosewho succeeded in getting their ideaswho succeeded in getting their ideasaccepted were quick to accuse theiraccepted were quick to accuse theiropponents of factionalism.opponents of factionalism.


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Factor 2: A centralised PartyFactor 2: A centralised Party

machine.machine. Consequences:Consequences:

This position and the growingThis position and the growing

centralisation of the party put Stalin in acentralisation of the party put Stalin in aunique position to influence jobunique position to influence jobappointments.appointments.


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Factor 3: The growth in PartyFactor 3: The growth in Party

membership.membership.

By 1933 there were 3 and a half millionBy 1933 there were 3 and a half million

members.members. Many members were young,Many members were young,

inexperienced and uneducated.inexperienced and uneducated.


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Factor 3: The growth in PartyFactor 3: The growth in Party

membership.membership. Consequences:Consequences:

These were malleable recruits. TheyThese were malleable recruits. They

were much more likely to obeywere much more likely to obeyinstructions than some older partyinstructions than some older partymembers.members.


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Factor 4: No one clear Leader.Factor 4: No one clear Leader.

StalinStalin

TrotskyTrotsky

ZinovievZinoviev KamenevKamenev

BukharinBukharin


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Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky

Trotsky was the man most feared by theTrotsky was the man most feared by theother senior members.other senior members.

BUT..BUT..

Trotsky refused to compete for leadership.Trotsky refused to compete for leadership.He was absent at Lenins funeral sayingHe was absent at Lenins funeral sayingthat Stalin had told him the wrong datethat Stalin had told him the wrong date

(hummmm). In reality he seems to have(hummmm). In reality he seems to havelacked the political will to fight.lacked the political will to fight.

This left the door open for.This left the door open for.


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Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky

Trotsky was exiled to Turkey. 1 down..3Trotsky was exiled to Turkey. 1 down..3to go.to go.

Stalin played the other members of theStalin played the other members of thepolitburo off against each other until theypolitburo off against each other until theylost their government posts.lost their government posts.


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Stalins Victory.Stalins Victory.

Stalins victory was not inevitable, nor wasStalins victory was not inevitable, nor wasit a result of his political skills alone.it a result of his political skills alone.


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Stalins VictoryStalins Victory

The centralised nature of the party made it relativelyThe centralised nature of the party made it relativelyeasy to control. This had begun under Lenin.easy to control. This had begun under Lenin.

The opposition to factionalism established by Lenin ledThe opposition to factionalism established by Lenin ledother leading members to their political death as theyother leading members to their political death as they

were seen to not be towing the party line.were seen to not be towing the party line. Poorly educated new party members were easy toPoorly educated new party members were easy to

dominate.dominate.

Stalins own political skills aided his rise. By shiftingStalins own political skills aided his rise. By shifting

allegiances, using the secret police and putting hisallegiances, using the secret police and putting hispeople in key jobs there was no opposition for him topeople in key jobs there was no opposition for him toencounter.encounter.

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