Stalin-Trotsky Debate

Lenin has just died, but unfortunately for Stalin the housekeeper noticed the Testament and brought it to the newspaper. The next morning every paper in Moscow has the denunciation of Stalin as its major story.
Stalin doesn't resign as he thinks his supporters will stand firm. The day after at the Party Congress meeting a resolution is introduced by Trotsky to remove Stalin from his position. Stalin refuses to permit debate on it. His supporters are mortified. The Left Opposition is delighted as this is the evidence they need to show Stalin as a power-hungry menace. Even more important is the fact that the press was invited.
Stalin and Trotsky begin to hurl insults. Trotsky calls Stalin a ``traitor to the revolution, who will turn his back on those fighting for justice.'' It's a charge Stalin cannot deny: Socialism in One Country has not been announced yet, but in private he has committed to it. The meeting ends in disarray: Stalin is in disgrace, and the Left Opposition has control. What happens next?
 
Very interesting ! Unfortunately I haven't a clue about the answer...except to ask what are Bukharin, Zinoviev etc doing, and is Dzherzinsky (dammit, can't spell !) in office ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Bukharin is safe. He's well-liked, but on the right of the party. However, his opposition to Stalin was well-known. He is also a major theorist, more up to the task of opposing Trotsky then Stalin. However, name recognition is low.
Zinoviev and Kamenev are in trouble. Trotsky will still publish Lessons of 1917, only this time Stalin will not be able to protect them. Trotsky, being the organizer of the Revolution is going to have the name recognition needed to get his policies enacted in the Soviets. Dzherzinsky is likely to be committed enough to avoid politics, much like in real life.

Soon after this Bukharin and Trotsky have a major dispute. Bukharin leaves the party and founds the People's Socialist Party. When Trotsky protests Bukharin points out the ban on opposition parties was meant to be temporary. He takes enough of the membership with him to field candidates to the Soviets. This makes the Soviets, not the party, primary. With the ban on opposition parties gone the SR's return. They support Bukharin, and so Trotsky loses.
 
Or Trotsky has Bukharin labelled a reactionary, bans his "social fascist party" and rules as Generalissimo of the USSR until his death, occassionallyremoving opponents due to their Bukharinite tendencies


I really don't, can't say I know much about Trotsky to decide what he'd do given Stalin's fall, after all he was just as oppossed to NEP as anyone, if Trotsky came to the fore I'd imagine collectivisation and industrialisation, just probably earlier, while the military would probably suffer far less
 
Opposition party is a good idea

It will make certain that what Stalin did won't happen again. If there is one party, internal politics, which are a lot more petty, dominate. Trotsky knows he's not liked by some personally, so he wants to move the opposition as far away as possible. He doesn't like the idea of a one-party state because of the effects on the party. The question is will the Communist Party be able to seperate itself from the State after years of them being synonymous.

If Trotsky rules, with Bukharin as a loyal opposition (remember, Bukharin is left wing enough to be tolerated) collectivization of industry is likely, but collectivization of farms is going to be carried out by distribution to the peasants. Trotsky will make it a bloodbath abroad, not at home.

The first target is Mexico. Currently the government of Mexico is fairly left-wing. He makes it go further to the left by offering economic and military aid. Calvin Coolidge is in the strange boat of giving assistance alongside a nation he refuses to recognize to Mexico. Unfortunately for Coolidge, Mexico is socialist already. They are going to be impressed by the gains of Soviet Russia, and join them on the path to socialism.

Then the Great Depression hits....
 
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