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Evaluating Stalin's Power - Coggle Diagram
Evaluating Stalin's Power
Stalin's power was occasionally challenged and questioned by members of the Politburo or local Communist Party members. But overall, their limits were minimal and Stalin dealt with them harshly.
Limits from above
The Communist Party did try and limit Stalin's personal power.
The Politburo refused to agree to the execution of Ryutin (a member of a faction against Stalin who had denounced him in 1932).
Members of the Politburo were cautious of Stalin's Second Five Year Plan targets and forced him to lower them.
Members of the Politburo voiced fears over Stalin's brutality. For example, Ordhzkonikidze openly expressed opposition to Stalin's use of terror in a meeting.
Impact of the Politburo's limits
Commonly, the Politburo is presented as meek and passive for letting Stalin get away with whatever he wanted.
The Politburo did try, on occasion, to limit Stalin's power or call him out in his terror tactics.
Arguably, these efforts were minimal and not hugely effective.
Some of Stalin's advisors did take advantage of the power Stalin gave them and used it for their own agenda.
E.g. historians point out how the head of the NKVD (secret police) Yezhov behaved during the Great Purge.
Limits from below
The USSR faced international enemies. Some members of the Communist Party wanted to shore up the socialism in the USSR against these enemies.
Stalin was critical of these zealous party members who implemented collectivisation too enthusiastically.
There could be conflict between local communist authorities and Stalin.
Stalin's rule of terror
If Stalin felt local party members were threatening his power, he executed them.
Stalin increasingly ruled through terror and personal control.