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Contenders for Power (Stalin (Character (reputation of violence (Georgia…
Contenders for Power
Stalin
Character
reputation of violence (Georgia Incident)
hardworking
cunning
highly underrated
not as intellectual as other politburo members
Connection to Lenin
supported Lenin on controversial issues
placed himself close to Lenin in his final years
used the Cult of Lenin to make himself appear very close to Lenin
Lenin was very critical of Stalin in his political testament
Party Popularity
his moderate position made it appear like he was reasonable
neither popular or unpopular
Powers of Patronage
his position as general secretary gave him great power
was able to build up a strong power base within the party
Service to the Party
had been a Bolshevik for a long time
hadn't made a big impact on the Party
he only followed orders
Marxist Theory
supported Lenin and Marxism-Leninism
Government Experience
he had a good understanding of administration from his position as General Secretary
Links with other Politburo members
had scope to make links with both the left and right of the party
he did not naturally ally himself one way or the other
he took up a moderate position
Trotsky
Links with other Politburo Members
people disliked him
he underrated Stalin
was outcast within the party
Marxist Theory
did not want to split the party
was focused on the good of the party rather than his own gain
exceptional theoretician
Service to the Party
people were suspicious of him
leader of the Red Army
was originally a Menshevik
Powers of Patronage
did not act as a patron
made no serious attempt to build a power base
Party Popularity
people were worried he would take control of Russia in a Napoleon style dictatorship
his arrogance made him unpopular
Connection to Lenin
worked very closely with Lenin
second in command
Character
great orator
dismissive
very arrogant
intelligent
Government Experience
leader of the Red Army
did not like the boring details of party administration
The Right
Bukharin
Character
open and cooperative
quite likeable
seemed naïve and lacked political intrigue
Connection to Lenin
quite close to Lenin
Lenin called him 'the darling of the Party'
Party Popularity
quite popular and had good relations with both sides
'Golden boy of the Party'
Powers of Patronage
tried to be friendly with everyone
did not establish a power base
Service to the Party
an expert on economics and agriculture
helped set up the NEP
Marxist Theory
the unofficial theoretician of the Party
Government Experience
held no important governmental position
head of Pravda from 1918
Links with other Politburo Members
friendly with Stalin, Lenin and Trotsky
was popular
underestimated Stalin
Rykov
Character
was quite moderate and not divisive
wanted to be unifying
Connection to Lenin
Had always been loyal to Lenin
often disagreed with him on key issues (e.g October 1917)
Party Popularity
an 'Old Bolshevik'
put a tax on Vodka which made him very unpopular
Powers of Patronage
didn't have a power base
Service to the Party
and 'Old Bolsehvik'
Chairman of the Sovnarkom
Marxist Theory
was not a theoretician
Government Experience
good administrative abilities
his position was largely ceremonial
Links with other Politburo Members
overshadowed by Bukharin
more aligned to the right
Tomsky
Character
one of the few working class Bolsheviks
plain spoken
hostile to the left
Connection to Lenin
an 'Old Bolshevik'
had fallen out with Lenin over trade unions
Party Popularity
repeated for his work and as a working class communist
Powers of Patronage
power base solely in the trade unions
a target for Stalin's jealousy
Service to the Party
chief spokesperson for the trade unions
Marxist Theory
not a theoretician
supported NEP
Government Experience
General Secretary of the Red International at the Trade Unions
Links with other Politburo members
hated Trotsky
aligned strongly to the right
The Left
Kamenev
Character
capable and intelligent
very good with people and settling disputes
lacked the ruthlessness to seize power for himself
Connection to Lenin
very close to Lenin
Lenin trusted lots of his personal papers to Kamenev
Party Popularity
quite popular but not as much as Zinoviev
The 'nice guy'
lacked drive
Powers of Patronage
had a strong power base in Moscow (where he was party representative)
had no power base elsewhere
Service to the Party
was an 'Old Bolshevik'
had opposed Lenin in 1917: 'The October Incident'
Marxist Theory
had no set direction
he frequently changed sides and ideas
Government Experience
a skilled politician
too 'soft' for a leader
Links with other Politburo members
very close to Zinoviev (partners)
good at smoothing out difficulties amongst colleagues
Zinoviev
Character
intelligent and educated
had mood swings
good speaker and had a commanding presence
vain
Connection to Lenin
high in Lenin's favour
'My closest and most trusted assistant'
Party Popularity
more popular than Kamenev
commanded respect from other colleagues
Powers of Patronage
strong power base in Leningrad (where he was party representative)
held important positions in high ranks of the party
head of the Comintern
Service to the Party
an 'Old Bolshevik'
had opposed Lenin in 1917: 'The October Incident'
Marxist Theory
seen as a compromiser
did not appear to have a consistent philosophy
Government Experience
spokesman of the Central Committee
head of the Comintern
Links with other Politburo Members
close partners with Kamenev
well respected within the Party
The 'October Incident' was held against him