Raul 1
P09Raul Patel
Year 13
History
What was the most important reason for Stalin coming into power?
Stalin; formerly known as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was a Marxist and an avid
follower of Vladimir Lenin. His involvement in the Bolshevik movement was due to his active
violent attacks on the Tsarist government, through bank robbing and kidnapping to fund the
revolution, allowing him to become one of Lenin’s closest associates. Despite his early success
within the Bolsheviks, he was not considered to be among the list of natural successors; Trotsky,
Bukharin, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Kirov. This essay will evaluate which factor was the most
important reason for Stalin coming into power; by analysing luck, skill, weakness of opposition
and political ideology to overtake the natural successors and become the leader of Russia.
Arguably one of the most crucial factors to Stalin’s rise in power was his skill; his
cunning ideas became successful through unpredictable methods to gain power within the party.
Even though he was not an intellectual; he had certain social skills, thus allowing him to gain
support, especially with his background in poverty. The fact that he was raised Gori (Georgia),
had gained him the support of the peasants and workers, as they knew he would act in their bests
interests due to their similarities. Furthermore, he was a hard-working individual, and went
through many jobs within the party, his acceptance of many administrative jobs leading up to
1924 such as; Peoples Commissar for Nationalities, Liaison Officer between Politburo and
Orgburo, Head or Workers and Peasants Inspectorate, General Secretary of the Party; created a
persona of an underestimated member of the Bolsheviks; as they were unimportant and repetitive.
Stalin’s opponents had provided him with the opportunity to use his perceived image to his
P09Raul Patel
Year 13
History
What was the most important reason for Stalin coming into power?
Stalin; formerly known as Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was a Marxist and an avid
follower of Vladimir Lenin. His involvement in the Bolshevik movement was due to his active
violent attacks on the Tsarist government, through bank robbing and kidnapping to fund the
revolution, allowing him to become one of Lenin’s closest associates. Despite his early success
within the Bolsheviks, he was not considered to be among the list of natural successors; Trotsky,
Bukharin, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Kirov. This essay will evaluate which factor was the most
important reason for Stalin coming into power; by analysing luck, skill, weakness of opposition
and political ideology to overtake the natural successors and become the leader of Russia.
Arguably one of the most crucial factors to Stalin’s rise in power was his skill; his
cunning ideas became successful through unpredictable methods to gain power within the party.
Even though he was not an intellectual; he had certain social skills, thus allowing him to gain
support, especially with his background in poverty. The fact that he was raised Gori (Georgia),
had gained him the support of the peasants and workers, as they knew he would act in their bests
interests due to their similarities. Furthermore, he was a hard-working individual, and went
through many jobs within the party, his acceptance of many administrative jobs leading up to
1924 such as; Peoples Commissar for Nationalities, Liaison Officer between Politburo and
Orgburo, Head or Workers and Peasants Inspectorate, General Secretary of the Party; created a
persona of an underestimated member of the Bolsheviks; as they were unimportant and repetitive.
Stalin’s opponents had provided him with the opportunity to use his perceived image to his
