The Power Struggle

Background

• Jewish, was exiled to Siberia

Revolutionary Record

• won support for Communists during October Revolution
• mastermined the Bolshevik seizure of power
• responsible for consolidating the Communist rule
• leader of the Red Army during the Civil War

Relationship with Lenin

• at first, he sided with the Mensheviks
• from 1917 he worked closely with Lenin - saw eye to eye, eg. on the Red Army discipline
• Lenin said, 'no better Communist', 'most able man', but 'too far-reaching self confidence'

Appeal within Party

• support of young communists, students and loyalty of the Red Army
• many enemies within party
• many resented him for joining party so late but being so high up

Party Powerbase

• No party job

Government Powerbase

• Head of Red Army
• Commisar for War

Background

• claimed to be leader of world proletariat, but was Georgian, Marxist
• became a Communist in 1902
• was a member of the Central Committee by 1912

Revolutionary Record

• Committee member during October revolution
• refused Trotsky's authority during the Civil War
• had a position at the highest level of government in 1921

Relationship with Lenin

• Lenin called him 'that wonderful Georgian'
• however, once Lenin became ill, Stalin began to oppose him
• Lenin was critical in his testament, wanting Stalin removed from the party
• however Lenin still said he was one of the 'most able'

Appeal within Party

• Threefold:
  • he could advance careers of those within the party
  • was seen to be the voice of calm moderation
  • was prepared to appeal to the national pride of those he sought to lead

Party Powerbase

• Gereral Secretary
• Head of the Central/Control Commission

Government Powerbase

• Commisar for Nationalities on the Sovnarkom

Background

• parents were teachers
• joined Communists 1906

Revolutionary Record

• wrote in Communist papers, encouraging German Communists to seize power in their own country

Relationship with Lenin

• Bukharin admired him
• Lenin said he was a 'golden boy'
• however, after the revolution Bukharin headed the Left Communists, criticising Lenin's signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
• after the Civil War, he abandoned the Left Communists and supported the NEP
• 'favourite' of the whole party, the 'most able', but was 'fully Marxist' (criticism)

Appeal within Party

• 'honesty, fairness' <- appealing to party members
• in 1921 a foreign visitor said he was the 'eventual successor to Lenin'

Party Powerbase

• Unofficial party theorist
• Had control of the media

Government Powerbase

• No position
• Couldn't vote

Background

• Jewish
• joined Communists 1903

Revolutionary Record

• during Civil War, stayed in Petrograd's most luxurious hotel, far from the fighting

Relationship with Lenin

• worked together on books, accompanied Lenin into hiding mid 1917
• however violently disagreed with Lenin:
  • about the Communist seizure of Power - didn't think they should do it
  • suggested they should share power with other parties after the seizure of power
  • Lenin said, 'I will only remind you that October episode of Zinoviev and Kamenev was not, of course, accidental'

Appeal within Party

• vain, ambitious,
• had obvious political failings
• sometimes a good speaker

Party Powerbase

• Head of Petrograd Party

Government Powerbase

• Did not serve on the Sovnarkom

Background

• only potential successor with a working class background

Revolutionary Record

• more cautious
• opposed April Theses, October Revolution, and having an all-Communist government
• had no notable part in the Civil War

Relationship with Lenin

• opposed Lenin's vision
• close during his final years
• testament reminded readers of his abscence in 1917 - 'I will only remind you that the October episode of Zinoviev and Kamenev was not, of course, accidental.'

Appeal within Party

• little personal ambition
• intellectual
• uninspiring public speaker
• gave up easily in the face of opposition

Party Powerbase

• Chairman of Central Committee
• Leader of Moscow Party

Government Powerbase

• Deputy leader of Sovnarkom

Key: Trotsky, Stalin, Bukharin, Zinoviev, Kamenev

Background: Jewish, Georgian, parents were teachers, Jewish, working-class

Revolutionary Record: leader of Red Army; position at the highest level of government; wrote in Communist papers, wanted German's to seize power in Germany; stayed in luxurious hotel during Civil War; opposed April Theses, October Revolution and the all-Communist government.

Relationship with Lenin - his Testament: 'no better communist' but 'too far-reaching self confidence'; 'that wonderful Georgian', but wanted him kicked out; 'golden boy' but 'fully Marxist'; violently disagreed with seizure of power, absent 1917; opposed Lenin's vision, absent 1917

Appeal within Party: many enemies within party, could advance careers of those within party, honest and fair, obvious political failings, vain, little personal ambition, gave up easily

Party Powerbase: None, General Secretary, Head of the Central Control Commission; controlled media; Head of Petrograd Party, Head of Moscow Party

Government Powerbase: Head of Red Army, Commisar for War, Commisar for Nationalities, None, None, Deputy Leader of Sovnarkom