Trotsky was also very intellectual which was a disadvantage. He had been university educated, and was also from a wealthy background. The Bolsheviks had always said they represented the workers and peasants of Russia, and wanted someone like themselves running the Bolsheviks.
This was an advantage for Stalin, as he was seen as a man of the people, because he came from an ordinary working class background, and dressed and talked like a normal worker. He had many propaganda pictures of him printed with workers, or soldiers to show Russians that he was just like them. This straight away gave him an advantage over Trotsky, as Trotsky was arrogant and did not want to be seen as an ordinary worker, he wanted to be seen as a powerful leader.
Stalin was also ingeniously cunning. He took dull, but important jobs in the Bolshevik party to build up supporters, like the job of General Secretary. He worked very hard, which gained him respect, and therefore helped him gain supporters. Trotsky, on the other hand, did very little to gain support. Although he was a brilliant man, he also misjudged the situation he was in, as he did not see Stalin as a serious opposition. Stalin, himself, knew that Trotsky had been an influential force in the Revolution, and knew he would have to fight to become Lenin's successor over Trotsky.
Stalin was also able to use Lenin's death very much to his advantage. Stalin was, in a way, lucky that at the time of Lenin's death, Trotsky had been ill, and sent to the south of Russia. Stalin tricked Trotsky into thinking that Lenin's funeral was a day after the real date, so that Trotsky did not appear to pay his respects. The Russian people did not know that Trotsky had been ill and it was seen as though he could not be bothered to come. This made people question his loyalty to Lenin, and the Bolshevik party. At the funeral Stalin also made a great speech, and appeared to be the Lenin's closest ally. Although this was far from the truth, Stalin made the most of any opportunity to appear close to Lenin, as Lenin was seen as a great leader, and Stalin used this as a tactic to help him become the next Bolshevik leader.
Trotsky wanted to spread Communism all over the world, to have a ‘Permanent Revolution’, which was basically a world communist revolution. In response, Stalin claimed this would lead to war, and introduced his ideas of ‘Socialism in One Country’. This stated that Russia had to accept that the world revolution was not likely to take place and that Russia should stabilize itself with the help of neighbours. This was much more appealing to the Russian people, as they really did not want to go to war after all the troubles they'd had in World War One, and the Civil War. If Trotsky had won the power, and attempted to spread Communism over the world, war would have been inevitable. ‘Socialism in One Country’ was more popular than the ‘Permanent Revolution’, so this gained more support for Stalin, instead of Trotsky.
A significant supporter of Trotsky’s however, was the late Lenin. Before he died, Lenin wrote a testament, about who he thought should take over as leader of the Bolsheviks when he did die. In it, he said that, although, Stalin had “unlimited authority in his hands” that he was not sure “whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution”. Lenin was much more complimentary of Trotsky, saying that he is distinguished by his “outstanding ability”, and is “the most capable man in the present Central Committee”. Stalin knew that if the Testament were ever published it would have damaged all he had worked hard for, and support Trotsky’s bid for leadership. So, with the help of two other Bolshevik members Kamenev and Zinoviev, who hated Trotsky, Stalin stopped the testament from ever being published in any newspapers, or books. With both Kamenev and Zinoviev in high positions in the Bolshevik party, Stalin had gained two very helpful supporters. All this meant Stalin had not only stopped his campaign from having criticism, but had also eliminated a key supporter of Trotsky’s.
In conclusion, as a result of Trotsky's arrogance, Stalin's skills and abilities were put aside, and he was not considered a threat until it was far too late. Stalin's deviance and ruthlessness helped him to eliminate the opposition, such as his clever funeral trick, and his views on Russian policies won over the Russian people. It is because of these factors, that Stalin emerged as Lenin’s successor, and not Trotsky.
