"The fact that Stalin became the dominant leader of Russia by 1929 indicates that he was a more skilful politician than Trotsky." How far do you agree with this statement?

“The fact that Stalin became the dominant leader of Russia by 1929 indicates that he was a more skilful politician than Trotsky.” How far do you agree with this statement?

After the death of Lenin in 1924, the new leader of the Soviet Union was uncertain. There were many struggling for power, the two which outstood the most were, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky. In this ardent power race, political intelligence would not be enough to win. In order to prove this, there is a need to view each man’s actions and compare them, in order to prove that although both men were capable of leading the USSR, Stalin out ran Trotsky through manipulation and luck, not only political skill.

Stalin was a cunning, tough, intelligent man. He knew what he wanted and although it is not to argue that he was politically intelligent, he not only used political skills to work to the top and become leader of the USSR, he as well took advantage of “lucky” events. It is easily established that he was determined to defend his position in power stakes and in order to be a top player of the Bolshevik Party, he begun to build his powerbase starting from 1921 when Lenin appointed him as Party Secretary. This position meant he could easily influence the Politburo business, giving him the control over what was discussed in meeting and what information other members received. Not only did he stop at being Party Secretary, as well he became a member of the Orgburo and Secretariat in which he could appoint supporters in key positions. Control of party organization as well meant Stalin had the influence of delegates who went to the annual party congress, in which major issues of policy were decided on and since he chose the delegates they would vote the way he wanted to, allowing him to deliver his vote making him a valuable ally and this obtain Kamenev and Zinoviev’s support. Another advantage which he had was the control of party membership, in which he could admit people who would most likely support him, recruiting young, industrial workers, ex-peasants who were illiterate, instead of educated one, instead of educated members who would support Trotsky.

Unlike Stalin who had a wider power base, his opponents had a limited amount of power. Trotsky, for example was restricted to young, educated members and the Red Army. Kamenev and Zinoviev had support in Moscow and Leningrad. As for Bukarhin “the Golden Boy; the biggest and most valuable theoretician in the Party” (called this by Lenin), although popular with most people (even his opponents) did not have the cunningness and skills that others, including Stalin did.

Stalin’s powerbase was not his only advantage to Trotsky, many events which took place as well aided him. After 's in ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Stalin’s powerbase was not his only advantage to Trotsky, many events which took place as well aided him. After 's in January 1924, Stalin, , and together governed the party, placing themselves between (on the left wing of the party) and (on the right). He took Lenin’s death as a way to demonstrate his loyalty and doing a tribune to him in order to gain popularity. He as well tricked Trotsky into not showing up to the funeral by giving him a wrong date which affected Trotsky’s reputation.

An example of political strategy used by Stalin’s to his rise to power is the way that he manipulated his opponents and played them off against each other in order to eliminate each one. His first target was the left wing. Together with Zinoviev and Kamenev, Stalin outdid Trotsky by campaigns questioning his loyalty to Lenin, this breaking up the left wing. When Trotsky was finally rid of, Stalin then turned on Kamenev and Zinoviev and joined Bukharin and Rykov (right wing) in order to destroy them. Later in 1927, during the Party Congress, Trotsky and Zinoviev were expelled from the party and lost his seat on the Central Committee, allowing Stalin to now turn against and . This strategy used by Stalin was to get rid of all existing oppositions by using each of their weaknesses to destroy them.

Leon Trotsky on the contrary to Stalin was considered to be “personally the most capable man in the present central committee” (written by Lenin in his Testament, 1922), this demonstrating that on Lenin’s behalf Trotsky seemed to be a more suitable leader rather than Stalin. Although a tactful, determined, well organized, capable man, Trotsky was outmaneuvered by Stalin because he was not fit for the power struggle due to his lack of political intrigue and the lack of powerbases, unlike Stalin. Trotsky's theory of “”, as well led him to the loss of popularity due to permanent revolution as seen as a gate way to a never ending war since he argued that Russia should support other revolutions as a way of strengthening its own. On the contrary, Stalin’s “Socialism in One Country” was a better choice for the population and allowed him to gain more popularity because it focused more on building a Communist state in Russia only, which would make it equal to any nation in the world. These two concepts as well were closely linked with the NEP in which Trotsky in favor of ending the NEP which was to force industrialization by collectivizing industry and agriculture, which the majority of the population (peasants) were not happy of since the NEP gave them the opportunity to be better of and to be able to buy consumer goods, this making Trotsky even more unpopular.

Trotsky was beaten by Stalin in the struggle for power due to his many weaknesses. Amongst these was the fact that he was ill and since a Jewish, Stalin created the image of Trotsky of being an isolated figure, a posturing Jewish intellectual whose international revolution threatened the security of the USSR. Another disadvantage Trotsky had was that he kept quiet in many occasions, such as when Lenin’s Testament was not made public and was overran by opponents instead of overrunning them such as Stalin did. He as well was feared of becoming a dictator because of his position in the Red Army, his policy of “Permanent Revolution” and his arrogance.

In conclusion, although both Trotsky and Stalin to a certain point were both politically skillful, Stalin outmaneuvered Trotsky in many aspects due to many events he had luck on and many situations which he took advantage of. Stalin demonstrated on being more quick witted than Trotsky in the sense that he was willing to step on who ever was needed to, and doing what was needed to reach the top, unlike Trotsky.

(Stalin and on the tribune of )

Bibliography: