Stalin struggle for leadership

Another gold chance that Trotsky missed in order to destroy Stalin was in 1924 when all the members of Politburo decided not to publicise Lenin’s testament. They were afraid of losing their positions as in it they were deeply criticized by Lenin. However, the one that was going to suffer the most was from it was Stalin as actually Lenin suggested his replacement, as source A says ‘’I propose to the comrades to find a way to remove Stalin from that position, and appoint another man more patient, more loyal, more polite...’’. It is clear that this was the best and easier way that Trotsky could got rid of Stalin. All he had to do was form an alliance with the rest of the members in Politburo as Kamenev and Zinoviev but he again missed his chance. This low level of action made him an easy opponent for Stalin.  

Trotsky’s good knowledge of Marxism was a strength that he had over Stalin who had ‘’weak theoretical grounding’’ according to source B. But it seems as it did not help him to win over Stalin as it even caused him further deterioration in his position in the Party. After Lenin’s death Trotsky stated that the NEP (New Economic Policy) should be replaced as it was against Marxist values due to the freedom of enterprise and private farms it allowed. For a true Marxist as Trotsky this was more of a capitalistic idea so he took the side of the left communists. However, Stalin considered this as Party disloyalty and exposed it to the rest of the Party members as betrayal towards Lenin’s position. In this way Stalin used Trotsky’s NEP attitude to undermine him. But Trotsky again did not make a massive reply or attack him back. This again proved his main weaknesses of not acting back which is also suggested by source E which portrays Trotsky more as a theorist who prefers to fight for his point in writing than being practical. This was a great opportunity for Stalin who was going to fail if actually Trotsky acted due to his higher intelligently.

Also Stalin and Trotsky had differences in the way the Soviet should be governed which Stalin again used against him and tried to show him as a betrayer. Due that Trotsky followed the Marxist theory strictly he had the image of ‘’Permanent Revolution’’ which contrasted with that of Stalin who believed in ‘’Socialism in One Country’’. Trotsky wanted to spread the revolution outside the Soviet as he believed that only then true socialism in the USSR can be achieved. However, Stain claimed that first of all the Soviet needs to be modernised and become capable of defending itself from anti-socialist enemies. Stalin used this difference to present Trotsky as an enemy of the State who goes against Lenin’s values. He succeeded to create an image of him as an isolated figure whose high intellectual level makes him unable to think clearly and imposes the Soviet in danger by thinking of international revolution. Trotsky did not do much to change the image that Stalin create of him. In 1926 when he united with Kamenev and Zinoviev against NEP and the adoption of industrialisation it was too late to act as Stalin had already backed his position. Trotsky inefficient actions are also proven by source D which claims ‘’ Often at the most critical moments of struggle he left the arena. Once when the Politburo was reviewing his position, he was on a hunting trip.’’  

Trotsky had a major weakness which was his inefficient actions against his opponent -Stalin. He had all the qualities of a good leader and politician but he just did not react strong enough against Stalin’s tactics. His behaviour is almost not understandable as he had a few great chances to destroy Stalin particularly during the Georgian problem and with Lenin’s testament. When he decided to oppose to Stalin by uniting with Kamenev and Zinoviev it was pointless as they themselves have already lost positions in the Party. Trotsky’s incapability to counterattack Stalin’s almost elementary tactics was the only reason that enabled Stalin to took power over the Soviet. Or the argument should not be about Trotsky’s weaknesses that allowed Stalin to take power but about Stalin’s too revolutionary behaviour as Trotsky was not the only one from Politburo that had a chance to take power over the Soviet and did not show enough resistance.