Stalin's Defeat of Both His Left and Right Opponents

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Stalin's Defeat of Both His Left and Right Opponents

There were many combining factors that enabled Josef Vissarionovich

Dzhugashvili, better known as Josef Stalin, to so easily slip into the

role of successor to Lenin. His path the leadership of the Communist

party of the Soviet Union,(the CPSU) can be attributed to many factors

and certainly cannot be put down to inevitable occurrence as Stalin

was by no means the natural choice for leader following the death of

Lenin in 1924 especially as the deceased leader's testament had

branded Stalin "too rude."

In 1903 Lenin created the Bolshevik party, and successfully led it

through three revolutions to the helm of government, and headed the

world's first socialist state. His authority was recognised within the

party and he was a respected leader. By 1918 a civil war broke out

dividing the county. Lenin foresaw that a united Bolshevik front

against the bourgeoisie (the whites) was a necessity and also that the

government (SOVNARKOM) would be the dominant force in the new civil

state following the cessation of the civil war. Thus in the same year

all other political parties were banned and thus the CSPU remained the

only party from which SOVNARKOM ministers could be drawn from. This

left the ministers increasing isolated but, at the same time,

increasingly powerful. As a result the position of General Secretary

increased also. This position effectively held power over entrance to

the party as well as being the lynchpin between the CPSU and

SOVNARKOM. The minister thus held effective power over the whole

administration of the country. Lenin realised the error in giving so

much power to ...

... middle of paper ...

...against the Moscow CPSU using loyal Party officials

within its structure. As a result of this, by early 1929, Tomsky was

no longer Trade Union Leader, Uglanov had been replaced in Moscow,

Rykov had been superseded as premier by Molotov and Bukharin had been

voted out as chairman of the Commintern and lost his place in the

Politburo. They were in effect "dropping like flies" and Stalin wasn't

having to work too hard for power. The gulf was never that wide

between the left and right but Stalin exploited what little gap there

was well.

Overall I feel that none of Stalin's opposition from the left or the

right had the confidence or the conviction to actually seriously

challenge Stalin for the right to become Bolshevik leader, and as

MaCauley states: "Stalin was greatly assisted by the inept tactics of

his opponents."

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