Sunday 25th November 2012
“The Outcome of the power struggle owes more to the weakness of Trotsky than the skill of Stalin.” How far do you agree?
I do not agree with this statement as Stalin’s sheer skill and manipulation meant he essentially managed to wipe out the opposition, in particular Trotsky, which inevitably led to his success. Although it can be seen that Trotsky’s numerous errors and fixed reputation for being lazy and arrogant led to the outcome of the power struggle, his results could have not possibly justified the success over the other candidates. Therefore, the weaknesses of Trotsky alone would not have been enough and the outcome of the power struggle owed more to the skill of Stalin.
Although Trotsky’s errors and negative reputation aided Stalin to succeed, without Stalin’s manipulation and his ability to make the best of them, Trotsky’s faults would not alone have guaranteed him success. It was Stalin’s manipulation skills and ability to make the best of Trotsky’s mistakes that catapulted him into power. Trotsky had a firm reputation for being lazy, arrogant and ignorant; a perception later confirmed when he failed to turn up to Lenin’s funeral. Although many argue that Trotsky was in the Crimea during the funeral and return in time, his absence, whatever the cause had severely negative impacts on his name. However, it was Stalin’s manipulation of Trotsky’s absence and the way he used it to his own advantage rather than Trotsky’s absence alone that led to Stalin’s substantial gain in popularity. Trotsky’s nonattendance gave everyone an opportunity to show their loyalties to Stalin and gain the endorsement of the nation, but it was Stalin who stood out and presented himself as “chief mourner”. Had Stalin not taken any notice and failed to act upon it, Trotsky’s absence would have simply meant a fall in his own popularity rather than a rise in Stalin’s.
