How did Joesph Stalin come to power?

Answer 1

Stalin used a number of tactics to gain control of the communist party: exploiting his opponents and their weaknesses; gathering a power base while party secretary under Lenin; and manipulating other party members by playing them against each other; controling the press apparatus.

After Lenin's death, it was clear that the leadership race was between Stalin & Trotsky (a leading bolshevik, popular and powerful from before and through the revolution). The majority of people favoured a collective leadership or rule by committee, fearing a 'dictator' would emerge. THeir biggest fear was not Stalin, but Trotsky who was viewed as arrogant and had an imperial manner that seemed to show a conviction that he knew what direction of the party should take.

Party members were also worried about the unity of the party and how any divisions would tear both the party and the country apart again. Stalin seemed the lesser of evils to many party stalwarts.

Another main issue with the leadership of the party was that of NEP (new economic policy) and the industrialisation debate. The left of the party, including opposition in Trotsky, Zinoviev & Kamenev wanted to end NEP and go for rapid industrialisation.

The right wing, such as Bukharin wanted to continue with NEP and encourage the peasants to become richer and spend money on consumer goods, allowing industry to grow at a normal rate.

It is argued that Stalin became party leader because of his central views that looked after both sides' opinion. He was a bit of a oportunist, changing his views depending on public opinion, which helped build up support for him from a variety of areas.

Stalin's ability as a co-ordinator allowed him to build his power base. He had access to the innerworkings of the party as the party secretary, a job seen as unimportant. But this seemingly insignificant job gave him control of the politburo (communist top body) - he drew up agendas, giving him power to control discussions and information members received. Basically by controling the flow of information, he was able to isolate his enemies and funnel more powers and information to his own supporters.

His positions in the Orgburo and the Secretariat, which gave him control of appointments to positions of responsibility in the party structure, allowed Stalin to move his supporters into key positions, thus further consolidating his powerbase. These people included party secretaries at regional level and party secretaries elsewhere, such as in the Ukraine, who were powerful enough to decide how lower level party members voted.

Stalin's control of the party organisation meant he could influence the section of delegates sent to annual party congress where major issues of policy were discussed. He could pack congress with his supporters, meaning Trotsky received a hostile reception at conferences from 1924 onwards. Stalin also had control of the party membership; this allowed him to get rid of radical elements - students and soldiers - who were likely to support Trotsky.

Stalin aimed to encourage young urban workers and poorly educated ex-peasants, for whom Stalin's practical policies on nationalism appealed. This large powerbase - spread out over Russia, helped to ensure Stalin's supporters far out numbered his opponents. Trotsky found himself isolated and supported by the red army only.

Stalin was also the master manipulator when it came to public opinion. He was quite devious in his ability to manouver better press coverage and further isolate his enemies. A good example of this was when Stalin persuaded Trotsky to not show up for Lenin's funeral, damaging his political prestige and reputation. Lenin was seen as the father of the revolution, and by not appearing at the funeral, Trotsky appeared to be insulting Lenin's legacy. By controlling the press, Stalin controlled public opinion.

Answer 2

After Lenin's death in 1924 there were two main candidates that could follow him. Leon Trotsky and Joe Stalin. The Russian communist party were worried that Trotsky (commissar of war) would provide a coup and take Russia by force. Meanwhile Stalin was making his connections in his 'low' profile positions in the party.

people's commissar for nationalities (1917)

Liaison Officer between the Politburo and Orgburo (1919)

head of workers and peasants inspectorate (1919)

General secretary (1922)

These positions were not seen as important before Stalin came to power. However the major advantage these positions had were that Stalin could make connections on a low level position. When the time came that Stalin needed votes, such as the 1925 all party congress (Stalin gained 559 votes - Opposition gained 65 votes) he knew that he could receive them.

The reasons why Stalin came to power can be put into two categories:

1. Failings of Trotsky

2.Strengths of Stalin

Trotsky didn't attend Lenin's funeral.

Stalin provided the main speech at Lenin's funeral

Trotsky was a Menshevik until just before the revolution when he came over to the Bolshevik side.

Stalin had been a Bolshevik all along. Also, he had been on the Central Committee of Party before the revolution.

Trotsky was Jewish.

Stalin was a peasant and a 'people's person'

Trotsky was the leader of the Red Army and forced peasants to turn their grain over to it for cheap prices, which made him unpopular with

the peasants.

Trotsky had little support in the party.

Stalin was filling Party posts with people loyal to him.

Trotsky believed in 'permanent revolution'

Stalin believed in 'socialism in one country'

Obviously you can't just rely on these two categories but you should get a brief idea from those.

Stalin made Lenin into an ideology and based his ideas very near to those of Lenin. Because of Lenin's 'No factions within the party' law that was brought in anyone that disagreed with Stalin disagreed with Lenin.

In 1923, When Vladimir Lenin was unable to speak or walk due to strokes, Stalin, Grigori Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev ruled as a majority of the Politburo and eliminated Leon Trotsky. Then Stalin allied himself with Nikolai Bukharin and ousted Zinoviev and Kamenev. Then he managed to oust Bukharin. During this time he was adding people to government positions, including the 5 member Politburo that made the top governmental decisions and especially to the secret police.

IN the late 1920s Stalin dominated the Communist Party, but he could still be removed from power if the Central Committee voted against him. Stalin still had to respect the fact that there were other "old Bolsheviks" that were around in Lenin's day and were respected enough that they could put together a vote against him. Then Stalin eliminated as many of those "old Bolsheviks" as he could on false charges.

Eventually, Stalin had four handpicked men serving with him on the Politburo, so there were few disagreements with him. Just as important, Stalin chose the men who would run the secret police. Once that combination of control of the Politburo and control of the secret police was attained, Stalin could do almost anything, but not quite everything, he wanted to do.

Answer 3

• Assistance in governing the Soviet Union - The KGB had considerable power in government affairs, particularly foreign affairs.
• Suppression of internal resistance - The KGB was responsible for silencing or eliminating dissidence.
• Protecting leaders - National leaders were physically protected and the information about them was screened by the KGB.
• Ensuring economic efficiency - The KGB disciplined workers and quelled strikes.
• Criminal investigations - The KGB investigated many crimes, especially those by foreigners and those which were against the government.
• Enforcing morals - Dealing with those who had deviated from Soviet ideology was another KGB task.
• Punishment - The KGB oversaw the punishment of political criminals.
• Informing leaders - Soviet leaders were kept up to date about all types of information because of KGB reports.
• Diminishing foreign threat - The KGB sought to decrease opposition from abroad and foreign influence within the Soviet Union. Foreigners in the Soviet Union, including diplomats and tourists, were individually monitored by a KGB agent who employed a number of techniques to spy. These foreigners were often the target of recruitment for espionage, made possible by the agency's adept abilities of persuasion. Threats, bribery, and seduction could all be used.
• Secret operations - Exceptionally secret work was handled by the KGB, including the building of an underground complex beneath Moscow for their own protection, which necessitated the establishment of the Directorate of Tunnel Diggers.
• Propaganda - The KGB had strict control over what information was made public.

Answer 4

Stalin came to absolute power by slowly eliminating threats over a period of several years. The first was Leon Trotsky, and then he continued on. With each success he became more powerful. Eventually, he had taken over the entire Communist Party with him at the head.

Answer 5

Stalin rose up to power through the communist party, and by overcoming his rivals for power

Answer 6

Joseph Stalin came to power when he killed Robert van Stalingrad and did a coup'-de-togh.