jan 1, 1929 - Defeat of the Right Opposition

Description:

- Consisting of Rykov (Chairman of the Central Committee), Tomsky (leader of the trade unions), and Bukharin (editor of Pravda and outstanding economist)

- Were "Right Communists" and for NEP

- Originally loyal to Stalin and opposed Trotsky, Kamenev, and Zinoviev

- Stood in the way of Stalins forced industrialisation and collectivisation plans (same as Trotsky's program)

- Seen as the last source of opposition to Stalin's power

- Eliminated due to public press, their loyalty to Stalin and conciliatory nature, and Stalin's call back to hard line policy which couldn't accommodate their ideologies

- Allowed to remain in party after public announcement of their mistakes but demoted from their positions

- Stalin became vozhd (вождь), undisputed leader