How far does Stalins position as General Secretary explain his success in defeating his rivals in the years 1924-1929

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How far does Stalin’s position as General Secretary explain his success in defeating his rivals in the years 1924-1929?Following Lenin’s seemingly premature death, the Communist leadership in Russia was thrown into disorganisation and disarray. Different ideas for the future of socialism were unveiled and out of this ideological confusion contenders for party leader emerged; amongst these, Stalin. Through the next turbulent 5 year period a struggle occurred between these contenders, and Stalin emerged successful as the new leader of the USSR. Stalin’s position of General Secretary and other factors all contributed to this appointment – a leader that would effectively win the Second World War and enforce totalitarianism throughout Russia. Before a true struggle for power had even begun, Stalin had tricked Trotsky to not turn up to Lenin’s funeral: this was seen as disastrous on Trotsky’s part – a total disrespect for Leninism itself. However, Stalin’s true movements for power began after the Triumvirate was established. It consisted of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin himself, and they were heavily opposed by Trotsky; then Head of the Red Army. It is important to note that had it not have been for Stalin’s role as General Secretary he would not have succeeded; this position allowed him access to the bureaucratic parts of the administration and allowed his scheme of patronage. Stalin literally appointed members to the Politburo and Sovnarkom that he knew would support his leadership – it is through this method that
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Trotsky’s distaste for the Lenin Enrolment and call for the end of bureaucracy was outvoted (ironically his calls for an end to bureaucracy were squashed by bureaucracy itself). In addition, this patronage that Stalin employed also helped him dodge the attack led by Krupskaya, Lenin’s wife, on the grounds of derogatory comments in Lenin’s testament. However, it is important to understand that Stalin’s position as General Secretary was not the only causation of the dodge of Krupskaya: Zinoviev and Kamenev urged that the Testament should be kept secret (probably to help themselves) and luck was a major player too. In ...

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