To a large extent I believe that the brutality of the Bolsheviks was the main reason why they remained in power. However on the other hand it could be due to other factors such as the Sovnarkom and the weakness of the White’s.
Firstly another reason why the Bolsheviks remained in power was because of their brutality using the CHEKA. This was established by Lenin on the 20th of December 1917. It was used as a secret police force to deal with opposition. The CHEKA used many methods all of which were brutal and included arrests, kidnapping, torture, sending of to labour camps and murder. This meant hat through the CHEKA Lenin could deal with any opposition that could affect his remaining in power.
Secondly, One reason why the Bolsheviks remained in power was because of their brutality was due to Trotsky and the red army. For example Trotsky introduced the death penalty for any conscripts who deserted the army. He blackmailed them into doing this by holding their families hostage. This meant that not only did the army hold together but was also being trained by the best people there were around. Meaning this would enable them to have a much better chance of lacking opposition e.g. the white’s. This is a brutal and forceful tactic for the Bolsheviks and it worked. Not only did this lead them to win the civil war but in turn by doing that, the Bolsheviks remained in power.
Lastly, another reason why the Bolsheviks remained in power because of their brutality was due to the murder of the royal family. For example some people n Russia still were hopeful of the monarchy returning. Due to this it is said that under the orders of Lenin, on the 17th of July 1918 the royal family were murdered. Some historians believe that Lenin ordered the royal family to be murdered but we can never be certain. However this meant that ne the royal family had been murdered there was no chance of them coming back and taking over power. It also meant that during the civil war, Lenin was afraid that the Whites and the Tsar would unite behind his back. Being that they had been killed, that was no longer a threat to Lenin and him and the Bolsheviks remaining in power. To conclude this was a very brutal tactic but it helped the Bolsheviks remain in power.
To conclude, I believe the brutality of the Bolsheviks was a very forceful way of reaming in power, however it worked. I believe significantly the most important was the CHEKA, then Trotsky and the Red Army and then the murder of the royal family.
However, on the other hand some people may disagree with me and say the reason the Bolsheviks remained in power was not due o brutality but other factors.
One reason why the Bolsheviks remained n power due to other factors was the introduction and use of the Sovnarkom. For example, when the Bolsheviks took over power they did under the name of the soviet. However, Lenin had no intention of sharing power with other parties in the soviet so introduced the Sovnarkom. This was a governing ruling council. T was made up with between 30-40 members and was dominated by Bolsheviks. The Sovnarkom was given the power to make laws without the approval of the Soviet. This meant that Lenin had come into power and going to remain there with the ability to make his own laws and become a one party state. Lenin and the Bolsheviks could deal with opposition thought the Sovnarkom and dominating the government. To conclude other factors such as the Sovnarkom was the main reason why eh Bolsheviks remained in power.
Lastly, another factor which was the main reason the Bolsheviks remained in power was due to the lack of support for the Whites. For example the Whites promised to return land to the nobility. Even though this pleases the nobility, peasants who had seized their own land would not support this, so were unwilling to fight for the Whites. Secondly the Whites promised to restore autocracy. This lost them the support f other workers and peasants, who were unwilling to give up the freedoms they had gained since the Tsar’s fall. This meant that the people of Russia did not support the Whites, so the only side left to support was the Reds (Bolsheviks) increasing their popularity and in turn their power over Russia. To conclude this was another main reason why the Bolsheviks remained in power. Putting in order of significance to the Bolsheviks remaining in power the Sovnarkom is a little more important and higher over the lack of support for the Whites.
To conclude to a large extent the Bolsheviks remained in power because of their brutality. To a small extent it was due to other factors.