Question by Spyros B: What style of rule did Vladimir Lenin use?
Did Lenin use a Machiavellian, Ideologue, or Realpolitik style of rule?
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Answer by yuitoihk
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spiffer1 says
Actually through the Politburo an attempt at being collegial. He consulted and listened to the options before coming to decisions. Stalin was likely the one most critical of this style. That's why, when the opportunity came, he took it and ruled with an Iron Fist like a dictator who had chosen the Bolshevik revolutionary name meaning 'steel'.
Squeaky Wheeler says
Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
IA says
A bit of all three. He was certainly an Ideologue, his political actions were directed by his political theories which he tried to sell to the people at large and the intelligentsia in particular. He was Machiavellian in that like Machiavelli's Prince he adopted the position that if you could not rule through the People's love of the ruler, then you had to make the people accept your rule through fear. Where the Bolsheviks held the upper hand he ruled through popular support, where they did not he used ruthless force, as in Trotsky's ruthless crushing of the dissidents at Kronstadt.
A Real-politician in his willingness to use his enemies to attain his ends, beginning with the famous railway journey in a German provided sealed train. He signed the Treaty of Brest Litovsk with Germany, to bring an end to the Russian involvement in WWI, while making no secret that he intended to do all he could to foment revolution in all of Europe. This left the Soviet army free to deal with the anti-Soviet forces in the Civil War.
Gerald Cline says
Basic repressive dictator…. Nothing fancy. You know, if they are not on my side 100%, kill 'em….