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Russia under communism
The New economic policy (NEP)
Summary
What?
Revised economic strategy
Who?
by Lenin and the Sov government in 1921.
Why?
Provide “Breathing space” for Russia’s depleted and war-ravaged economy.
Context
Russia had a revolution, then a civil war where Lenin implemented war communism to provide for the armed
forces leaving the people starving; after the Kronstadt revolt, Lenin was forced to fulfil the people's wishes of
implementing a new economic system so they can eat.
The NEP's main feature was to relax the restrictions and grain requisitioning imposed on Russian people by war
communism. Also permitted capitalist activity in the lower levels of the economy. Russian farmers could buy and
sell the excess on the market, this created a new group of merchants, retailers and profiteers dubbed Nepmen.
Normally these activities were punishable by death, but the NEP encouraged them. Ideological tensions began to
rise in the communist party due to the shift back to petty capitalism, with it being interpreted as a step backwards
in the revolution.
The formal name for the NEP “On the replacement of prodrszvorskta (Grain Requstioning) with rpodnalog (FIxed
tax).” Before grain requisitioning was decided on the spot by the state This was replaced by a fixed tax by the
state, allowing peasants to retain their surplus. Markets reopened and a new revised currency was introduced,
creating a mixed or blended economy with elements of both socialism and capitalism.
There was now an incentive for the peasants to work harder and produce more, result production rose
significantly, and peasants who grew more attained more cash and bought more land and labour creating the
Kulak class, a group long demonised by Bolshevik propaganda and where persecuted by the red army.
In comparative terms NEP was a success didn't solve all problems but Russia’s agriculture output a couple years
after the NEP Production returend to pre ww1 levels. Wages and industrial output also doubled during this time,
the new currency got rid of inflation in Russia.
Because the NEP allowed elements of capitalism to return, some of the Communist party hierarchy viewed it as a
retreat that socialist policies had failed. Lenin Justified stating that NEP was a temporary measure to provide
breathing space for the people and economy which was on brink of collapse. As well as defending the NEP
stating that the Soviet government retained control of the ‘commanding heights” of the economy: Industry, mining,
banking and heavy manufacturing. NEP increased class divisions; despite wage increases, it made it hard to
attract workers to the industrial sector in the cities.
1
, Stalin
How did he become a dictator?
1924
● Lenin Died = Power struggle for leadership of the communist party
● Trotsky was Lenin’s choice but Trotsky unpop in party
Why?
● Wanted strict control
● Controlled red army
● Advocated for world revolution
● Return to pure socialism
The central committee elected 3 leaders to rule as a Truimverate
1. Kamenev- Party secretary Moscow
2. Zinociev- Secretary Leningrad and President of COMINTERN
3. Stalin- General secretary
1924-1927
The Left Vs The RIght within the CPSU with regards to Economic and Political policy
● World Revolution, USSR needed allies ● Socialism in 1 country World revolution
in hostile Capitalist world may be dangerous as capitalist countries
● NEP must be abandoned as it would attack
betrayed socialist principles. ● Need NEP for longer to encourage
economic progress,
Stalin?
● Supported the right until 1927 because was the main rival of the left
● Surrounded himself with loyal supporters by appointing them in key positions in the party
as secretary.
● Then…
● Stalin attacks the rights policies and their support of the NEP. He forrced them to renounce
their views claiming they were attempting to restore capitalism.
● Had left candidates expelled from CPSU plotted to overthrow the government
● Trotsky exiled, Kamenev and Zinoviev readmitted when Stalin believed no long a threat.
2
,SO…
● Stalin had isolated his rivals and exploited the divisions between them.
● 1928 ruled Dictator until 1953
How did Stalin maintain his position
Cult of personality
Def: Individual uses mass media, propaganda or other methods to create and idealized and
heroic public image.
Achieved through
● Propaganda
● Public displays showing Stalin as great and wise
● Giant statues posters
● Censorship
The Purges
(Great terror)
What?
Anyone suspected of opposing Stalin
● Executed
● Disappeared
● Imprisoned in the gulags
Who?
● NKVD (Peoples commissariat for internal affairs)
● Initially led by Yezhov (Bloody dwarf), succeed by beria as he was purged
Why?
● Silence opposition - especially those who had previously supported Lenin
● Redcude size of the CPSU easier to control
● Silence criticism of NEP abandoned for 5yr plan
● Stalin personality dispersed- Paranoia and Meglamomania
Against who?
● CPSU
● Forced confessions for sabotage attempting to assassinate Stalin, a collab with
Trotsky, Hitler promoting capitalism.
● The army
● Approx 1/3rd of officers
● Affected morale and discipline of army allowing the german army initially easy
● Writers, academics, scientists, engineers, technologists
● Imprisoned in the gulags
● Results? Industrialization and economic growth slowed but infasrature built up
quickly.
3
, Stalin’s Economic Policy “Platilekta”
The five year plans
Objectives:
1. Stalin wished to increase industrial production in order to enable the USSR, to cope
with an attack from the west.
2. Bring USSR up to equipment standards of the west, confriming the superority of
communism as economic and political system.
3. Secure the communist state by gaining control of the peasents who were anti
communist and ensuring support of the proletarient who where the governments
allies.
Russian economy was to be modernised and mechnised
● Industrialisation, increase USSR’s industiral capacity with regards to heavy industry.
● Agriculture, collectivization introdudced to merge peasant small holdings into large
goverment controlled farms and introduce modern and effiecnet farming techniques.
Reason for collectivization,
● mass food production
● Feed increasing proleteriants
● Provide a surplus for export thereby ensuring foreign capital.
● Capital invested in industry or to imoport technology to develop factories
Benifits
● Release peasants from land, created a work force for factories in urban areas
● Gave government control over the peasants
How was this achieved
● NEP abandoned
● Industry and agriculture placed under government control: economy was coordinated
by Gosplan who set quotes.
The 1st 5 Year Plan
How was the plan achieved
The role of workers techniachins & peasants
Workers
Use of force
● Workers forced to meet unrealistic targets
● 8-10 hours a week for 7 days
● Strict controls and harsh working conditions enforced
● Workers could not change jobs and families were split up
● If quotes not met, workers accused of sabotage sent to gulags
Technicians
● Gov, encouraged foreign experts to come to USSR by offering lucrative contracts to
teach skills to the Russian workers.
4
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