Stalin
...distractions. Stalin was also perceived as a loyal member, and since he was positioned at the center of the Communist party it was thought that he would not cause splits in the party. This strengthened his position amongst party members who didn’t want to see the party break up whilst trying to transform citizens into socialists. Another factor that helped Stalin in his power struggle was his personal characteristics and his cunning political techniques along with the policies he developed. Firstly, Stalin was less high minded and arrogant than Trotsky, and so he was most suitable to manage the centralized state that had developed by 1924. Stalin was also resourceful, hardworking, and had a great capacity for work he worked with what he had and as everyone saw he accomplished a lot in becoming the leader of Russia. He was also single-minded and devoted all his time to win the power struggle; he was “a Genghis Khan” in preserving his power. Stalin was a good Marxist theoretician who could take over Lenin’s mantle. Since the October revolution Stalin gained Lenin’s trust as a devoted Bolshevik. Then, Stalin’s appointment to key positions in the party revealed his reputation amongst party members as a trustful person to Lenin. During Lenin’s funeral, Stalin set himself as Lenin’s disciple who would carry on what Lenin began. Also, using his political cunningness, Stalin tricked Trotsky into not attending the funeral, therefore damaging his reputation. Also, during Lenin’s sickness (1922), Stalin slyly established himself as the link between Lenin and the Politburo. Another evidence of Stalin’s cunning character was his attempt to defend Kamenev when Lenin wanted to expel him (Kamenev hated Trotsky), and so Stalin gained him on his side and created an anti-Trotsky power with Kamenev and Zinoviev (triumvirate). Stalin also outmaneuvered his opponents, “first in alliance with the rest of his colleagues, he opposed and demoted Trotsky”. “Then in the alliance with the Bukharin-Rykov ‘right’ he defeated the Zinoviev-Kamenev ‘left’ bloc and finally he and his own following attacked their hitherto allies, the rightists”. Stalin’s policies in 1925 about “Socialism in one Country” and the continuation of the NEP attracted many party members especially the right wing along with workers and peasants. This policy angered the left wing and created a reason for Stalin to expel Zinoviev and Kamenev. In 1928 Stalin eliminated the NEP angering the right wing and leading to the removal of Bukharin from the Politburo and other party bodies. Stalin “changes his theories according to whom he needs to get rid of next”. Stalin didn’t only use his policies to oust party member but more importantly to attract many people and gain supporters. The socialism in one country policy interested many people because it gave them a special historic role and the NEP solved their problems. Therefore, we can say that Stalin was a realist; he knew that a worldwide revolution wouldn’t happen, so he worked on solving economic problems by using the NEP instead Trotsky’s weaknesses and Stalin’s luck also contributed to Stalin’s rise to power. Firstly, Trotsky was seen as aloof and arrogant and most party members hated hi...