Explain the stages by which Stalin was able to defeat the right opposition.

Ashlie Edwards
10.2
Miss Hodkinson

History Coursework

Explain the stages by which Stalin was able to defeat the right opposition.

Prior to 1928, Stalin had defeated his strongest rivals, Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev. This left him to bring down his weaker rivals, Bukharin and Rykov, who he had allied with up to now. The left opposition were strong supporters of the New Economic Policy.

Trotsky was an idealist, he wanted rapid industrialisation and to pursue the ideas of communism he had studied in school. Stalin disagreed with these ideas, until he successfully removed the left opposition from power. Then he changed his position and decided to support an idea of 'rapid industrialisation' and because he was general secretary of the party, this became the new party policy. He also had control of the politburo, and after the left opposition was defeated, 6 new members were appointed. They were all supporters of Stalin.

Stalin's support of the New Economic Policy led to him being accused of taking over Trotsky's ideas of industrialisation. In response to these comments, he replied that he wanted to industrialise even faster than Trotsky, he said that he was a 'super industrialist'. This was not a very good argument because it was just a quick way to persuade the people of Russia to do what he wants them to.

Stalin was popular in the party because he held these ideas. His policies of super industrialisation were exciting and patriotic, because it meant the people of Russia would be working together to improve conditions and the economy.
However, the party would probably support Stalin whatever he did. Many members were appointed by Stalin himself and were poorly educated. Also because of the information available to them, Stalin was editor of the party newspaper and controlled press censorship.

Bukharin, Tomsky, and Rykov, tried to argue, but although they held important positions in the politburo; Stalin's men outnumbered them. They kept quiet, as they didn't want to speak out. Like Trotsky had done, and was accused of factionalism. This is being part of a breakaway group and disagreeing with the party policy, it is seen as a serious crime in the party. It had earlier been banned in 1912. The majority of the party was against them anyway due to Stalin's control of party membership and information censorship.

After this, their fall was swift. In 1929 Tomsky was replaced as head of the trade unions, and was expelled from the politburo.