Trotskyist USSR?

If Trotsky was to become the leader of the USSR after Lenin (say, he uses Lenin's testament in 1923) and controls it for a long time. Would Stalin attempt a coup? Would he be successful? Also, what about Trotsky's opinions on the "permanent revolution?' Would that lead to international communist support/aggression, leading to a communist Germany or the like?
 
Trotsky was not a great politician. He was arrogant, self-righteous, and argumentative. He managed to alienate most of the Bolsheviks and even Lenin found him a bit much. Add to that the fact that he was a latecomer to the Party (he was a Menshevik until a bit before the Revolution) and the chances of him gaining the support to get power are slim.

The reason we think of Trotsky as Lenin's heir apparent, who was taken out by a malevolent conspiracy headed by the pencil-pusher in chief (Stalin) is because that is how Trotsky saw himself. The man was a one man propaganda machine, and he's a rare case of the loser writing the history books.
 
Trotsky was not a great politician. He was arrogant, self-righteous, and argumentative. He managed to alienate most of the Bolsheviks and even Lenin found him a bit much. Add to that the fact that he was a latecomer to the Party (he was a Menshevik until a bit before the Revolution) and the chances of him gaining the support to get power are slim.

The reason we think of Trotsky as Lenin's heir apparent, who was taken out by a malevolent conspiracy headed by the pencil-pusher in chief (Stalin) is because that is how Trotsky saw himself. The man was a one man propaganda machine, and he's a rare case of the loser writing the history books.

Ah. So did Lenin have any clue for an heir apparent or were his opinions more toward letting the Council decide for him? He did criticize Stalin, correct?
 
Ah. So did Lenin have any clue for an heir apparent or were his opinions more toward letting the Council decide for him? He did criticize Stalin, correct?
Lenin was very critical of Stalin, however his Last Testament criticized everyone (Stalin was just the only one he recommended for administrative action). Lenin's main concern was avoiding a split in the Party, but it seems he was mildly in favor of Trotsky taking over. Of course Lenin's personal opinions really didn't matter, because he was incapacitated by multiple strokes and was unable to conduct much business.
 
Lenin Lives

Perhaps is Lenin had a few more years, five or ten, in decent health, then Trotsky might have succeeded him. Or Stalin might have become impatient, and... :eek:
 
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