Marx, Stalin, Lenin, and trotsky: Evolution of ideas

Russia after revolution Economy destroyed Emigration Decrease in trade and production

Vladimir lenin (1870-1924) Primary leader of the Bolsheviks Seen as “father of the revolution” Had been planning overthrow of the Czar/Romanovs since early 1900s Ultimate goal was communism Political and economic system All property is owned by the public All citizens work and share wealth

LEnin

Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Communism “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” “Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinctive feature: it has simplified the class antagonisms: Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.” Marx- “Manifesto of the Communist Party”

Marx

Marx and lenin Lenin was heavily influenced by Marx’s ideas A couple of key differences Marx thought working conditions would lead the working class to revolution Lenin thought revolutions needed to led by prominent revolutionaries Marx thought the revolution would end with communal ownership Lenin thought that administrators needed to be in place to ensure the community’s goals are met

Lenin’s solution New Economic Policy Partially capitalist, partially communist system Government controlled major industries, but some private ownership was allowed Economy mostly stabilized by late 1920s Production returned to pre-World War I levels

Lenin and power In 1922, Lenin formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Inspired by Marx’s writings, the Lenin & the Bolsheviks rebranded themselves as The Communist Party In reality, Lenin’s concept of Marx’s ideas differed from the ideas themselves The Communist Party ruled as a dictatorship Marx would have pictured that the people (or, the proletariat) would rule

Power struggle Lenin’s stroke in 1922 created tension over who would rule the party Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were the two main players Lenin was wary of Stalin: “Comrade Stalin… has concentrated enormous power in his hands, and I am not sure that he always knows how to use that power with sufficient caution.”

Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

Joseph Stalin (1878-1953)

Stalin’s Rise After Lenin’s stroke, Stalin (General Secretary at the time) started working behind the scenes to orchestrate his rise to power by slowly putting his close allies into positions of power 1928- Stalin takes control of party 1929- Trotsky exiled After Trotsky’s exile, Stalin was the unopposed dictator of the USSR