Thursday 9th July 2009
Explain why Stalin and not Trotsky emerged as Lenin’s successor?
In this essay I am going to explain why Stalin emerged as Lenin’s successor. There are many reasons for this from eliminating opposition and taking sides with the NEP. At the start it looked as if Trotsky was going to be Lenin’s successor as he was a good speaker as well as serving well in planning the revolution. Stalin on the other hand was seen as dull and an unimaginative leader but also ruthless and devious but there are many other reasons why Stalin emerged as Stalin’s successor.
Firstly, I will explain the strengths of Stalin and how he persuaded the public to take his side. When Lenin died on January 21 1924, Stalin was the only rival to attend his funeral. Trotsky did not turn up as he was tricked by his rival Stalin. This was done so that the public thought that Trotsky was disloyal and that he did not care about Lenin. Also Stalin eliminated enemies so that there was no opposition to compete with him. If there is no opposition then the public will only follow the only person left which would be Stalin. Another reason is that both Stalin and Trotsky were from two different backgrounds. Stalin was from a family that lived in Georgia. On the other hand Trotsky was Jewish and was from a Jewish farming family. Stalin was sly and had very powerful determination. Stalin also faked photos of him and Lenin; this would make him more popular and make him seem as if he was Lenin’s favourite.
Trotsky on the other hand had many disadvantages towards becoming Lenin’s successor. Trotsky was arrogant; this would have made him see that Stalin was not a threat. But he was. He believed that he would automatically win on his many achievements; this insulted the senior party leaders (Trotsky’s Party). Also Trotsky was Jewish this would have made him seem mistrusted by the Bolsheviks because they did not join until 1917. Trotsky also caught malaria a disease caught by...