Editing Joseph Stalin (section)

==== Transcaucasian Debate ====
		
After the Bolsheviks overthrew the bourgeois republics of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in the Caucasus, bourgeois nationalism persisted in resisting Soviet power. 

In July 1921 Stalin said, "Nationalism -- Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani - has shockingly increased in the Transcaucasian republics during the past few years and is an obstacle to joint effort. ... Evidently, the three years of existence of nationalist governments in Georgia (Mensheviks), in Azerbaijan (Mussavatists) and in Armenia (Dashnaks) have left their mark".<ref name=":0" />

Lenin proposed to unify these countries into one Transcaucasian Republic. The Politburo approved and the Central Committee confirmed it three times. This prevented Georgia from chauvinistic economic domination over the Caucasus, through its control of ports. It was opposed by the "Georgian deviation", which resigned in protest, and many of whom later joined Trotskyism.<ref name=":0" />

In 1922, Lenin said in regards to "the Turkestan, Caucasian, and other questions", "I don't think Comrade Preobrazhensky could suggest any better candidate than Comrade Stalin."<ref name=":0" /> 

Stalin, Cheka leader [[Felix Dzerzhinsky]], and Georgian communist Sergo Ordzhonikidze did the main work to root out the Georgian deviation.<ref name=":0" />