7) Economic And Social Developments Flashcards
What is state capitalism
A compromise economy
Which embraced some elements of socialism by imposing a degree of state control but retained elements of capitalism
Eg private markets and profit incentive
What is a socialist economy
One in which there is no private ownership and I’m which all members of society have a share in the states resources
What years was state capitalism used
1917-18
All socialists know that socialism can only develop in…
… an industrial society
How was a fully socialist economy not possible in Russia 1918
Fighting a civil war
Have a lot of economic problems
Not everyone wants to be a socialist
Why did some bolsheviks disapprove of the compromise with the old capitalist system
Demanded more radical measures
E.g
Nationalisation of all businesses
Abolition of money
Wanted trade to be determined by by people’s needs over desire to make a profit
How did Lenin reply to the bolsheviks who disapproved of state capitalism
He envisioned a long transition to socialism
Spoke of dangers of moving too quickly
Felt these ideals would simply work in Russia 1918
What is the decree of land
October 1917
Private ownership of land abolished forever
Name the two important decrees introduced in 1917
Decree on land.
Decree on workers control of factories.
What is the decree on workers control of factories
November 1917
Factories taken over by peasants
In order to establish greater state control over the economy the bolsheviks established what ?
Nationalisation of banks, railways, trade
Veshenka
GOELRO
When were banks, trade and railways nationalised
Dec 1917
June 1918
Jim/sept 1918
What is the Veshenka
The supreme council of the national economy
Dec1917
Took responsibility for all existing institutions for the regulations of economic life
What is the GOELRO
Special state commission 1920
Organised production and distribution of electricity throughout Russia
(Bol most sig achievement)
How important were the measures that the Bolshevik developed for greater control over the economy
Partial state control of economy and sig stage to more rigorous and total state control of economy
Problems of state capitalism
Shortcomings of Bolshevik decrees on land and industry
Workers failed to organise their factories efficiently
Some workers rewarded themselves unsustainable pay rises
Some workers helped themselves go stock and equipments
Workers simply lacked skills needed for successful management
Civil war - disruption/shortages of raw materials - industry in Bolshevik held areas plummeted
conditions in the city during the civil war
severe food shortages - 2/3 foods consumed by black market
workers leaving to join army - 60% left buy 1918 in petrograd
disease - typhus epidemic - 3 mill dead by 1920
no rations for nobility
rape murder = common
widespread issues faced during civil war
indusrial productions fell raw materials = short supply workers - taken to serve army non essential businesses forced to close inflation - money = worthless russia facing acute economic breakdown
the black market and barter
illegal trading of goods
goods exchanged without using money
what was cordon detachments
special army units that failed to stop the illegal trading of goods
1918
population of urban areas 1917-19
3.6m - 1.4m
who had it worse during civil war
cities - more civil unrest, disease, transport troubles, rationing
what is war communism
political and economic system adapted by bol during civil war in order to keep towns and red army provided with food and weapons
(regime during civil war)
what were the key features of war communism
grain requistioning private trading rationing small scale industry large scale industry transport and banking
explain Grain requistioning under war communism
peasants grain requistioned rigorously in order to distribute to feed workers in cities
peasants paid in fixed prices for grain
explain private trading under war communism
was banned
by nov 1920 all factories and businesses were banned
explain rationing under war communism
class based system red army prioritised then factory workers, smallest rations given to middle class - not enough to live on - aka the former people