How did the relationship between Stalin and Trotsky evolve from 1917 to 1929?

From 1917 to 1929, the relationship between Stalin and Trotsky evolved from comradeship to rivalry, culminating in Trotsky's exile.

In the early years following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky were both prominent figures in the Bolshevik Party, working together to establish the new Soviet state. Initially, their relationship was one of comradeship, with both men playing key roles in the government. Stalin was appointed as the People's Commissar for Nationalities' Affairs, while Trotsky was the Commissar for Foreign Affairs and later the leader of the Red Army.

However, following the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924, the dynamic between Stalin and Trotsky began to change. Lenin's death created a power vacuum within the party, and both men were seen as potential successors. Stalin, as the General Secretary of the Communist Party, was in a strong position to consolidate power. Trotsky, on the other hand, was increasingly marginalised due to his perceived arrogance and his theory of 'Permanent Revolution', which was at odds with the more conservative elements within the party.

Stalin used his position to build alliances with other party members, gradually isolating Trotsky. He also manipulated the party's ideology, promoting the concept of 'Socialism in One Country' as a counter to Trotsky's 'Permanent Revolution'. This idea, which proposed focusing on building socialism in the Soviet Union rather than spreading revolution internationally, was more appealing to many within the party, further undermining Trotsky's position.

By the late 1920s, the rivalry between Stalin and Trotsky had reached its peak. Trotsky was expelled from the party in 1927, and exiled from the Soviet Union in 1929. Stalin, meanwhile, had successfully consolidated his power, becoming the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.

In conclusion, the relationship between Stalin and Trotsky from 1917 to 1929 was marked by a shift from cooperation to competition, driven by ideological differences and the struggle for power following Lenin's death. This rivalry ultimately resulted in Trotsky's downfall and Stalin's rise to absolute power.