The power vacuum and power struggle

when did lenin die ?

-what feature of marxist-leninist ideology caused the power struggle?

Lenin died on 21st January 1924
-Power was supposed to be held in collective leadership, rather than a single leader. there was therefore no clear successor.

the power struggle didnt appear suddenly after lenin’s death - what are examples of the power struggle emerging before lenin’s passing ?

By the time of Lenin’s first stroke between 1922-23, a Triumvirate of Zinoviev, Kamanev and Stalin had emerged to block the ambitions of trotsky.

who did lenin criticise in his last testament ?

-who got criticised the most ? why ?

Lenin criticised Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Bukharin in his last testament

-He was very harsh on Stalin due to his brutal actions as commissar of nationalities in georgia.
-Stalin had also insulted Lenin’s wife, Krupskaya.

was lenin’s testament made public? why/why not ?

Lenin’s last testament was not made public at the 1924 party congress.
-Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev persuaded their colleagues not to publish the testament.

what were the strengths of joseph stalin ?

Stalin held a key position as General Secretary during a tim of bureacratic expansion.

-Stalin worked hard to master theories of Marxism-Leninsm

-Stalin placed himself close to Lenin during his dying years of 1922-24

what were the weaknesses of joseph stalin ?

Stalin’s violent personality was reinforced by Lenin’s critique of Stalin as commissar of nationalities.

-Stalin played a minor role in the October 1917 revolution.

what were the strengths of trotsky ?

Trotsky was a great orator and theorist

-he held political skill, ruthlessness and organisational ability

-Trotsky held power and prestige for his role in the revolution and the civil war.

what wre the weaknesses of trotsky?

-Many Bolsheviks feared Trotsky would use the Red Army to seize power

-Many old Bolsheviks ere suspicious of his past as a Menshevik

-Many hated his arrogance

-Trotsky made no attempt to secure a power base

-He was viewed as inconsistent and an opportunitist

-He made errors of judgement, such as attacking the bureaucracy in 1924.

what wer ethe strengths of kamenev?

-Kamenev was one of the Old bolsheviks
-in 1922 Lenin entrusted Kamenev with many of his papers
-he had a strong power base in Moscow
-He was regarded as thoughtful/intelligent.

what were hte weaknesses of kamenev?

Kamenev Gained a reputation for opportunism and incosistency as he opposed Lenin in 1917 and switched alliances between Stalin and Trotsky

-Many regarded him as lacking of ability to lead.

what were the strengths of Zinoviev?

Zinoviev was an Old Bolshevik
-Held respect due to contribution to october 1917

-Lenin called Zinoviev his “most trusted assistant”

-he was party boss in Leningrad and therefore had a strong powerbase.

what were the weaknesses of zinoviev?

Like Kamenev, his opposition to Lenin in 1917 was held against him

-He left it too late before switching to support Trotsky.

what were the strenghts of bukharin ?

Bukharin was popular within the party and close to Lenin in the 1920’s

-regarded as the best theoretician in the party

-Expert on Economics/Agriculture, the major issue during the power struggle.

what were the weaknesses of Bukharin?

Bukharin had no power base due to political inaction.

-He made errors of judgement such as leaving it too late to make an alliance with Zinoviev and Kamenev.

what were the weaknesses of rykov?

-Held a ceremonial posistion and lacked real power

-Implementation of tax on vodka created intesne opposistion

-Opposed Lenin’s tactics in 1917

what were the weaknesses of mikhail tomsky?

.

-Tomsky’s hostility to Trotsky blinded him to the danger of Stalin

-His support for the NEP was used against him during the 1927 grain crisis.