How did Stalin manage to marginalize his rivals in the Communist Party?

Stalin managed to marginalize his rivals in the Communist Party through a combination of political manoeuvring, purges, and propaganda.

Stalin's rise to power following Lenin's death in 1924 was not a foregone conclusion. He faced significant opposition from prominent figures within the Communist Party, including Leon Trotsky, Grigory Zinoviev, and Lev Kamenev. However, Stalin was a master of political manoeuvring. He positioned himself as a moderate and built alliances with key figures within the party, only to later turn on them when they were no longer useful. For example, he initially allied with Zinoviev and Kamenev to marginalize Trotsky, before turning on them and aligning with Nikolai Bukharin.

Stalin also used his position as General Secretary of the Communist Party to control party membership. He filled key positions with his supporters, ensuring that he had a majority in the Central Committee. This allowed him to pass policies that further consolidated his power and marginalised his rivals.

Another key tool in Stalin's arsenal was the use of purges. These were systematic campaigns of political repression and persecution, aimed at eliminating opposition to Stalin's rule. The most infamous of these was the Great Purge of the 1930s, during which hundreds of thousands of people were executed or sent to labour camps. Many of Stalin's rivals, including Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Bukharin, were caught up in these purges and either executed or marginalised.

Finally, Stalin used propaganda to shape public opinion and marginalise his rivals. He presented himself as the true successor to Lenin and the guardian of the revolution, while his rivals were portrayed as traitors or enemies of the people. This propaganda campaign was highly effective, helping to secure Stalin's position and marginalise his rivals.

In conclusion, Stalin's ability to marginalize his rivals was due to a combination of political manoeuvring, purges, and propaganda. He was a master of political strategy, able to build alliances and then discard them when they were no longer useful. His control of the Communist Party allowed him to fill key positions with his supporters, ensuring that he had a majority in the Central Committee. His use of purges and propaganda further helped to eliminate opposition and secure his position as the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.