How did the personality of contenders aid Stalin?

He himself was from a peasant background
Trotsky
1. 1923-1926 Ill with fever - unable to attend crucial votes and his illness was later of use to Stalin at the time of Lenin's funeral
2. Did not like making alliances and political infighting - vulnerability
3. Jewish
4. Arrogant and dismissive of other leading figures
5. Seen by older Bolsheviks as an outsider - joined 1917
  1. Some were unconvinced of his loyalty (though could be seen as too loyal - agreeing with decisions rather than risk party)
6. Some worried his rigid views could cause a split in the party.
Bukharin
1. Views were not fully Marxist
2. Believed to be too young to be a leader by many
3. Did not have the skills or cunning of Stalin
4. In 1920-1921 criticised Lenin and Trotsky on trade union controversy
5. Radicals on left wing suspicious of his economic policy - NEP
Zinoviev
1. Wanted a Socialist coalition
2. Less intellectual than other contenders
3. Public criticism of Lenin's plans for October Revolution and later cowardice
4. Unpopular and vain
Kamenev
1. Publicly criticised October Revolution plans - history of disloyalty and cowardice
2. Wanted a Socialist coalition
3. Not tough enough to be a true leader

Resource summary

	Created by EmmaSmile about 11 years ago