The Party’s Contribution to Russia and Stalin’s Rise to PowerFranco Contreras, Rylee Levine, Christopher Hallstrand, Elizabeth Lugones

The Structure of the Communist Party in the USSR

State Institutions Party Institutions

SvonarkomThe Council of People’s Commissars. Members of which are elected by the Politburo.

Central Executive CommitteeBody made up of of the administrators and overseers of the law-making process on behalf of the Congress of Soviets. Members are elected by the Central Committee

All-Russian Congress of SovietsTechnically the supreme law-making body of the state which all laws had to be passed through the congress. Effectively became a rubber stamp. Elected by members of local soviets.

PolitburoDecision making leader's (inner circle) of the Communist Party.

Central CommitteeTheoretically the key decision-making group in the party but that function was exercised by the Politburo. Elected by the All-Russian Congress

Party CongressMade up of the branches of local Communist Party representatives. (Played a larger role before Stalin began moving power upwards to himself)

Stalin’s Role within the Party

Lenin had a very big role in the Bolshevik party even though he lacked brilliance compared to that of Lenin and Trotsky. However, his particular qualities of perseverance and his willingness to take the jobs that nobody really wanted allowed him to have a greater say in the party.

Because Russia was a one-party state, membership of that one party was essential for all who held government posts at whatever level. As the government grew in scope, those who held positions had more power than before.

Stalin’s Role Within the Party cont.

People’s Commissar For Nationalities (1917) Stalin was in charge of the officials in the many regions and republics that made up the USSR.

Liaison Officer between Politburo and Orgburo (1919) This allowed him to monitor both the party’s policy and the party’s personnel.

Head of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspectorate (1919) This entitled him to oversee the work of all government departments

General Secretary of the Communist Party (1922) This allowed him to record and convey party policy. He also had personal files on all the members of the party so nothing happened without Stalin knowing about

How Stalin Acquired Power

Stalin became the indispensable link in the chain of command in the party and the soviet government. His posts gave him the power of patronage and he used his authority to place his own supporters in key positions.

Because they owed their place to him, Stalin was able to count on their support in the voting of various committees. Because of this, he was able to out-vote and out-manoeuvre anyone who opposed him.

Also, this also came into play with ‘the lenin enrollment’ as the new members knew that they had to be loyal to who invited them into the Bolshevik rank.

To what extent was the Party the dominant force in Russia (1922-26)?Party leaders would use the State institution as a “front” for the Party to control the Soviet Union. Members of most state institutions came from the Communist Party. As a one party state this meant that country was pretty much run by the communists through the legitimacy of the state institutions. The state institutions were the “de jure” (with the law) and the party was the “de facto” (against the law) essentially. The government of Soviet Russia had two main features, the Council of People's Commissars and the Secretariat, both controlled by the party. The vital characteristic of this system was that the party ruled, as Soviet Russia was a one-party state. Membership of the party was essential for all who held gov’t posts at any level. Under the Party/state institution, Stalin would have the power to pretty much do whatever he wanted (The Great Terror).

To what extent was Stalin’s role within the party the most important factor in his rise to power?

● Wasn’t necessarily his role in the party that was most important● As the General Secretary, he had enough influence to be appointed● Competed against Trotsky, Rykov, Tomsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev● Only one to deliver the oration at Lenin’s funeral, in which he humbly dedicated

himself to follow in Lenin’s tradition● Although Stalin was considered lucky in his rise to power, he did show signs of skill

that proved to aid him toward gaining power.

~His perseverance was notably significant

~People agreed with his economic ideas