Syllabus: What we’re going to learn about Stalin

• Why did Stalin gain power from 1924?

• How effective were Stalin’s economic policies?
• How was the USSR governed under Stalin?
• How far did society change because of Stalin’s regime?
Who is Joseph Stalin?
• Stalin, meaning ‘man of steel’, was not his real name. It was simply the alias he adopted in 1912. His real name was Joseph
Vissarionovich Djugashvili.
• He was born a Georgian, a poverty-stricken province in the south of the Russian Empire.
• Stalin was enrolled as a student in a Georgian Orthodox seminary. The fact was that at this time in imperial Russia
attendance at a church academy was the only way to obtain a Russian-style education.
• Stalin was attracted more to revolutionary ideas., and was involved in the Georgian resistance movement, agitating against
tsarist control. This led to his expulsion from the seminary in 1899.
• His anti-government activities drew him into the Social Democratic Workers’ Party.
• From the time he left the seminary to the revolution of 1917 Stalin was a committed follower of Lenin.
• He was instrumental in raising much needed funds for the Bolsheviks; his specialities were bank hold-ups and train
robberies.
• Lenin had been impressed by Stalin’s organising ability, insensitivity to suffering and willingness to obey orders.
• He once described him as ‘that wonderful Georgian’, a reference to his work as an agitator among the non-Russian
peoples.
• With Lenin’s backing, Stalin had risen by 1912 to become one of the six members of the Central Committee. He helped to
found the party’s newspaper, Pravda.
• By 1917, Stalin had been arrested eight times and had been sentenced to various periods of imprisonment and exile.
• In October 1917, Lenin’s Bolsheviks took power in a revolution which had the
backing of large numbers of industrial workers and soldiers.
• Having taken power in October 1917, Lenin led his Bolshevik Party in laying the
foundations for the first ever Marxist State.
• The Bolsheviks claimed that their victory gave them the absolute right to govern
Russia. (Marxists believed they truly represented the will of the Russian
Proletariat).
• After the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks (renamed the Russian Communist
Party in 1918) formed a new revolutionary government.
• However, they faced violent opposition, and a civil war broke out in 1918 which
lasted until 1921.
• During this period, the constant turmoil led to serious political crises and
economic collapse.
• These problems sparked growing disagreements among the Russian Communist
Party (RCP) leaders about what policies to adopt after 1921.
• From 1922, Lenin had suffered a series of progressively serious strokes, which increasingly prevented
him from taking an active part in politics.
• In December 1922, he wrote a Testament, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the main leaders;
in January 1923, worried by some of Stalin’s actions, he added a Postscript, recommending Stalin be
dismissed.
• When Lenin died he left many problems but no obvious successor. Few Russian Communists gave
thought to Stalin as a likely leader.
• Yet five years later, after a bitter power struggle, it was Stalin who had outmanoeuvred his rivals and
established his authority over the party and the nation.
• By the time of Lenin’s death in 1924, the Bolsheviks had overcome all the major challenges to their
authority and had transformed Russia into the USSR.
• Lenin did not allow any opposition to his government. Political enemies had been crushed and critics
within the party had been suppressed. Lenin’s years in power left the Soviet Union with a tradition of
authoritarian rule and terror. There were also serious economic problems that had still to be solved if
the USSR was to survive as a nation.
The struggle for power
Powerbases
Communist Russia was not a democracy. Therefore, the leadership
struggle was fought inside the Communist Party and did not involve the
people of Russia as a whole. In order to become leader of the Party, a
contender needed the support of the majority of the Politburo. The
Party Congress was key to success as it elected the Central Committee,
which in turn elected the Politburo. The contenders’ positions within
the Party helped to determine how popular they were at the Party
Congress.
A critical factor was that Lenin had left no clear instructions as to what form of government
should be adopted after him. This meant that the power was there for the taking; it was in
this regard that Stalin found himself particularly well placed.
That he had worked closely with Lenin and had held important administrative positions in
the Party put him in a position of prominence that no rival could match.
Here, the pragmatic way in which the Bolsheviks had first governed proved very important.
Certain posts, which initially had not been considered especially significant, began to
provide their holders with a controlling influence.
Stalin’s previous appointments to key posts in both government and Party now proved
crucial.
Contenders for Power
Contender Position(s)
Stalin People’s Commissar for
Nationalities (1917)
Liaison Officer between the
Politburo and Orgburo (1919)
Head of the Workers’ and Peasants’
Inspectorate (1919)
General Secretary
Head of Rabkrin
Significance
• Stalin was in charge of the officials in the many regions and republics that
made up the USSR.
• Lenin judged that Stalin, as a Georgian, had a special understanding of the
national minorities.
Stalin was in a unique position to monitor both the Party’s policy and the
Party’s personnel.
Stalin oversaw the work of all government departments.
• Controlled the Politburo agenda.
• Selected delegates for the Party Congress.
• Controlled promotions and appointments within the Party.
• Stalin recorded and conveyed Party policy. This enabled him to build up
dossiers on all the members of the Party. Nothing of note happened that
Stalin did not know about.
• He could influence what was discussed at Politburo meetings.
• He could fill the Party Congress with his supporters.
• He had the power to reward those who were loyal to him.
• Controlled Party discipline.
• He could investigate and sack from the Party those who opposed him.
Contenders for Power
Contender Position(s) Significance
Trotsky Head of the Red Army. • He was seen as a threat because Party members thought he
might use the army to seize power.
• He gained the loyalty of members of the army, some of whom
were also members of the Party.
• However, many members of the army were not members of
the Party, and therefore could not attend the Party Congress.
Bukharin Head of the Media • He could publish his own views and criticise the views of
Editor of Pravda. others.
Zinoviev Head of the Petrograd Party • He had the loyalty of a large section of the Party.
Kamenev Head of the Moscow Party • He had the loyalty of a large section of the Party.
Impacts of the power struggle
Party positions played a significant role in the leadership struggle. Stalin’s roles were seen as
mundane, and yet they gained him the power of patronage within the Party. In 1923, Stalin
appointed approximately 30 per cent of delegates to the Party Congress. This figure grew every year,
giving Stalin increasing control over important decisions. Crucially, few recognised the significance of
Stalin’s position until it was too late.

Trotsky had the high profile role of leader of the Red Army. However, in reality, this role commanded
little real power. What is more, this role made him appear threatening to many within the Party.

The positions of Zinoviev and Kamenev gave them the support of the largest section of the
Communist Party, while Bukharin‘s position in the media helped him shape opinion. However,
Stalin’s power of patronage extended throughout the Party and, therefore, he was able to
undermine his opponents even within their own powerbases.
• Lenin's Illness: Lenin suffered a series of strokes in the early 1920s, which significantly impacted
his ability to govern effectively. His declining health made it difficult for him to oversee the day-to-
day affairs of the Soviet Union and maintain strong control over the party.

• Lack of Clear Succession Plan: Lenin did not designate a clear successor, leaving the question of
leadership open after his death. This created a power vacuum and allowed for intense
competition among party members to fill the void.

• Weakness of Opposition: Lenin's rivals within the Bolshevik Party, such as Leon Trotsky and
Grigory Zinoviev, failed to build a strong united front against Stalin. Instead, they engaged in
internal power struggles and underestimated Stalin's ambitions, allowing him to consolidate
power gradually.
• Stalin's Position as General Secretary: Stalin held the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party,
which gave him considerable administrative power. This role allowed him to manipulate appointments,
control access to information, and build a network of loyalists within the party bureaucracy.

• Manipulation of Party Apparatus: Stalin strategically placed his supporters in key positions within the party
apparatus, including the Central Committee. This allowed him to control decision-making processes, sideline
opposition, and influence the selection of delegates at important party congresses.

• Exploitation of Factionalism: Stalin skillfully exploited divisions and factional rivalries within the party,
playing different groups against each other. He portrayed himself as a moderate figure who could bridge
these divides, ultimately consolidating power by eliminating potential threats and securing the support of
key factions.
• Propaganda and Manipulation: Stalin effectively used propaganda to cultivate a cult of personality and
portray himself as the true heir of Lenin's legacy. He skillfully manipulated public opinion through control of
media outlets, shaping narratives, and presenting himself as the defender of the revolution.

• Ruthlessness and Manipulation: Stalin was known for his cunning, ruthless nature, and willingness to
eliminate political opponents. Through purges, intimidation, and the use of secret police, he removed or
silenced those who posed a threat to his power, consolidating his authority and instilling fear among the
party ranks.

• Economic and Social Challenges: The Soviet Union faced significant economic and social challenges during
Lenin's leadership, including war communism, famine, and the devastation caused by World War I and the
Russian Civil War. These difficulties created an environment where strong leadership and stability were
sought, making Stalin's promises of industrialization and stability appealing to many.

It's important to keep in mind that these factors interacted with one another, and the rise of Stalin was a complex process influenced by a
combination of individual ambition, political maneuvering, and historical circumstances.
• Elimination of Political Rivals: Stalin skillfully manipulated the power struggles within the
Bolshevik Party, systematically removing his opponents through various means such as purges,
exile, and even execution. Notable figures like Leon Trotsky and Grigory Zinoviev were sidelined or
expelled from the party.

• Cult of Personality: Stalin cultivated a strong personality cult, promoting himself as the sole and
infallible leader of the Soviet Union. Propaganda campaigns portrayed him as a hero and savior,
emphasizing his role in the October Revolution and his dedication to the communist cause.

• Utilization of Party Positions: Stalin strategically occupied key positions within the Communist
Party, such as General Secretary, which allowed him to control appointments, promotions, and
party policies. This gave him immense influence over the party apparatus and helped consolidate
his power.
• Manipulation of the Central Committee: Stalin used his position as General Secretary to stack the Central
Committee with loyalists. This enabled him to control decision-making processes, ensuring that his policies
were implemented and dissenting voices were silenced.

• Divide and Conquer: Stalin exploited divisions and rivalries among party members, playing factions against
each other. By creating an atmosphere of suspicion and fear, he prevented potential alliances against him,
maintaining his own dominance.

• Five-Year Plans and Industrialization: Stalin initiated a series of ambitious economic plans known as the
Five-Year Plans, focusing on rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture. This allowed him to
consolidate power by controlling the country's economic development and prioritizing military and industrial
sectors.
• Propagation of Marxism-Leninism: Stalin presented himself as the true inheritor of Lenin's legacy and
championed the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. He used his position to reinterpret and selectively apply
Marxist principles to justify his policies, gaining support from the party and the masses.

• Secret Police and Surveillance: Stalin established a pervasive system of secret police, known as the NKVD,
which employed surveillance, informants, and terror to suppress dissent. This widespread fear and control
helped him maintain his grip on power by instilling obedience and preventing opposition.

• Control over Media and Education: Stalin exercised strict control over the media and educational institutions,
ensuring that they disseminated propaganda glorifying him and his policies. This allowed him to shape public
opinion, control information flow, and stifle dissent.

• Manipulation of Elections: Stalin manipulated electoral processes, ensuring that only loyalists and
supporters were elected to important positions. This gave him control over the legislative bodies and further
solidified his authority.
Further Reference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X_GYIJFdcc