How did Stalin become Communist party Leader?

**aqalieh95** Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:13 pm

Importance of control of party organization
- Party Secretary
  - Control over the business of the Politburo → people who run the Communist party
  - Able to control what was discussed in the meeting
  - Able to know what information other members received
- Position in Orgburo and the Secretariat
  - Control of appointments to positions of responsibility in party structure → allowed him to put his supporters in key positions
- Control of Party Organization
  - Influence the selection of delegates → his supporters
- Control of Party Membership
  - Got rid of radicals – students and soldiers – who supported Trotsky
- Stalin had control over almost every aspect of the party
Policies
- “He changes his theories according to whom he needs to get rid of next”
- Able to agree with majority
- Never imposed his views
Personal characteristics and Political skills
- Understood demands of peasants
- Go with majority
- Good at taking advantage of situation → political maneuvers
- Not from intellectual class
- Establish conformity
Weaknesses of Opponents
- All of Stalin's opponents were polarized and were fighting each other while Stalin watched in the middle
- His opponents were not as good leaders as Stalin
- Underestimated Stalin
Luck
- Trotsky was sick during funeral of Lenin
- Lenin was sick and was not able to communicate his thoughts about Stalin