Stalin used the weaknesses of his opponents against them, so they couldn’t strike back. Trotsky wasted obvious advantages like aloofness, being supported by the youth and army. He made stupid errors, not supported by others. He doubted Stalin’s abilities as a rival. In the right wing Bukharin was not fearful. In the left-wing Zinoviev, Kamenev. All Stalin’s opponents more scared of each other than him.
After Lenin’s death two men competed as his successor: Trotsky- the favourite and Stalin. During this leadership battle the right and left wing brought 3 main political ideas forward.
Economic policy-
I) N.E.P or rapid industrialisation?
II) Permanent revolution or socialism in One country
III) Dictatorship
Trotsky believed in helping communists in other countries to stage revolutions by giving money them money and sending agents.
Stalin eliminated his opponents one by one before they knew what was happening. First Stalin sided with Zinoviev and Kamenev who were part of the left wing. At the first party congress Zinoviev, Kamenev joined forces with Stalin to defeat Trotsky. A lot of politicians were scared that Trotsky would be a dictator because he contolled and had support of the Red army. Stalin, as the party’s general secatory, made sure that his supports packed the congress. Tortsky lost all the votes and soon after lost his job. As commissar of war and no longer controlled the red army. In 1926 Stalin turned on Zinoviev and Kamenev. He joined Bukharin and the right wing of the party,putting forward his ideas of socialism in one country. Once again, Stalin’s supports packed the congress and he easily won the votes on important issues. Zinoviev and Kamenev lost their jobs in the politburo. In 1927, Tortsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev were explelled from the party. Finally, Stalin turned on Bukharin and right-wing MPs, He attacked N.E.P, which they suopperted and he had them removed from their pots. In 1929 Stalin celebrated his 50th birthday as the undisputed leader of the USSR.
Stalin had a lot of luck. Svrd’ov Lenin’s heir died paving the way for a new leader to emerge. Stalin’s political carrer was almost over when Lenin’s testament was given to the cenrtsl commission. Zinoviev and Kamenev urgeg them not to publish it to the public as it contained bad information about them as well as stalin. Stalin gained the first advantage over Trotsky at Lenin’s funeral. Trotsky was ill and Stalin tricked him into not coming by giving him the wrong date. This severly damaged Trotsky’s repuation and political prestiage. Stalin made most of the funeral, setting himself up as Lenin’s disciple, the person who would carry on lenin’s work.
