Russia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Russia - Essay Example Soon after the revolution in 1917, Vladimir Lenin was the top leader of the Bolshevik political faction and the Russian nation. Stalin did not loose any chances before Lanin to presented himself as Lenins right-hand man. After Lenins death in 1924, Stalin vociferously defended Lenins legacy (eHow, 1999). During the same time the politburo declared publicly that it would follow a principle of collective leadership which Rykov, Tomsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev, Trotsky and Stalin. Among all of them Stalin using strong, emotive language of praise and worship, gained an early advantage as the orator at Lenins funeral (blacks.veriovps.co., N.D.). In the mean while Stalin terminated the left wing of the party leadership. Soon after Lenins death, Stalin also began a campaign to discredit the "ideological errors" of his main rival for power, Leon Trotsky. And finally, Stalin was successful in driving Trotsky out of the country. This image of loyalty was another major factor Trotsky failed to establish that went in support for Stalin and his ideas was necessary to the winning of the people’s personal favor an which was known to Stalin very clearly (eHow, 1999). Stalin gradually consolidated his power base and, when he realized that he had sufficient strength, he broke his relations with Kamenev and Zinovev. After this when Kamenev and Zinovev recognized Stalins political power, they made amends to rejoined with Trotsky join against Stalin. However, Stalin responded to their attacks on his position with his well-timed formulation of the theory of socialism in one country. Next, Stalin turned his attention to the right wing of the party. As a result Stalin distanced himself from the left and won support from Bukharin and the partys right wing (Library of Congress Country Studies, 1989). Once Stalin made sure that he had neutralized Trotsky by joining himself with the party’s relatively liberal right wing, he again did the similar thing with Bukharin. Stalin