“Stalin Won Because Trotsky Lacked a Power Base” How Far...

â€Å"Stalin won because Trotsky lacked a power base†: How far does this statement explain why Stalin, rather than Trotsky, succeeded Lenin as leader of the Soviet State? A power base is the source of a person’s organisation power or influence. The statement â€Å"Stalin won because Trotsky lacked a power base† does not explain the actual reasons as to why Trotsky did not succeed Lenin as the leader of the Soviet state. Trotsky had the most powerful power base in Russia at the time which was that he had control of the Red Army. Stalin on the other hand had control of the politburo which was still powerful but when it came down as to who was more powerful it was no doubt the power base of Trotsky. After Lenin’s death in 1924, there were 5 main†¦show more content†¦Trotsky’s inactiveness resulted in people thinking Stalin was better than him. Normal people who did not have any interest in the party or were loyal began joining the Bolshevik Party after Lenins death. This was known as Lenins Enrolment. Russians who weren’t even true Communists joined the Party in order to receive privileges. Trotsky openly called these people ‘radishes’. As they were red on the outside, meaning they appeared to support Communism, but were white on the inside, meaning they were really the ones who opposed the Reds; and only joined to have an increased standard of living. Trotsky was a well educated upper class member of Russian society and came off as rude and snobby, he made things worse for himself after declaring people as ‘radishes’ losing even more of the little support he had left after failing to attend Lenins funeral. This again is a very important factor in Stalin becoming Soviet leader. Trotsky had many qualities but was hugely contradicted by his arrogance and insults towards others. One of the biggest insults was that he called the members of the party â€Å"Radishes†. What Trotsky meant by this was that on the outside the members said they were really part of the Bolsheviks party because they wanted a communist state, however on the inside they were members for the privileges that you got for being part ofShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesE SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture