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
explain small scale industry under war communism
controlled by state
explain large scale industry under war communism
issuing decree on nationalism - all industrial enterprises in russia under central control
explain transport and banking under war communism
nationalised under state capitalism and remained
military style control over railways
why was war communism unpopular in towns
lenin sent his own managers to operate factories
strict discipline was imposed on workers
death penalty introduced to strikers
people prevented from leaving cities
prices rose and this inflation made the rouble lose its value- bartering replaced money
why was war communism unpopular in countryside
peasants forced to grow more food
they refused to work harder as they not paid fair price
lenin ordered requistion squards to seize the food
those found hoarding were punished
peasnats didnt want to hand over surplus food so grew less
result was massive famine
consequences of war communism
agriculureal collapse - 5 million die of starvation
cities in chaos - orphaned children and burglary
main reasons NEP introduced cause of war communsim
problems with industry
getting people on your side
problems with farming
war communism in a nutshell
help bols gov fight whites in c.w take control of industry and food production, factories, mines and railways grain taken from peasants private trade banned food rationed peasants shot/arrested 1921 famine factory production fell krodstat revolt FAILED
the red terror during war communism
bol unapologetic to extream force or terror to enforce their policies - believed knew whats best 4 russia
RT launched after assination attempt on L (aug 1918)
aimed at political enemies - SRs + mensheviks
1918-20 - 500,000 deaths
set up concentration camps
famine during war communism
1921
1/5 pop was starving
bol admit famine and accept foreign assistance
american relief association provided food for 10 mil russians
5 mil still starved to death
bolshevik attitudes towards war communism
believed in represented true revolutionary communism
war communism was permanent economic policy for true socialism
-centralised industry - ended private ownership
however failure of economy and state famine led to widespead anti bol risisngs 1920-21
the kronstadt rising - who involved and why it happened
1921
development of opposition within party
alexandra kolontai led opposition
protests against the excesses of war communism - accusing leaders of losing touch with proletariat
kronstadt manifesto
early march sailors and workers of kronstadt set 15 man revolutionary committee and created a manifesto/demands
e.g freedoms of speech and press, new elections to soviets held by secret ballot
importance of kronstadt rising
workers and sailors of kronstadt were once heros of the rev
now insisting bol gov return to promises that inspired rev
they were genuine socialists who used to be loyal to lenins gov and were appauled by regimes betrayal of workers cause
how was kronstadt rising crushed
trotsky ordered red army
demonstraters rejected ultimatum given to them
artillery bombardment - 60,000 red troops stormed kronstadt base
sailors and workers resisted fiercely - lost
aftermath of the kronstadt rising
ringleaders were shot
cheka hunted down escaped rebels
lenin justified severity by saying the rising was the work of bourgeoise enemies
what is tambov revolt
1920-21
70,000 peasant army rose up against gov when grain requistioning forces arrived
red army deployed - brutal reprisals
poison gas used
communist party members view on Nep
betrayal to communist ideals and retreat to capitalism
russian peasants view on nep
new policy preferred as any extra grain could sell profit or keep
private traders view on nep
pt legalised. made nepmen wealthy
industrialists view on nep
prices have risen - make more money
large industries still state owned but small can be private
may feel threatened to how long this will last
key features of nep
grain requistioning private trading rationing small scale industry large scale industry transport and banking
explain Grain requistioning under Nep
replaced by tax in kind
peasants give fixed amount of grain to state (less than amount through grain requistioning)
could then sell surpluses on open market - incentive
explain private trading under Nep
ban removed
food and goods could flow more easily between countryside and towns
private owned shops opened + nepmen
explain rationing under Nep
rationing abolished - money economy back
explain small scale industry under Nep
small businesses under private ownership removed - could make profit
explain large scale industry under Nep
state kept control for things like steel , oil and coal
explain transport and banking under Nep
retained control of banking and transport systems
industry organises into trusts - pay workers from own budget
state would not bail them out if budgets not managed efficiently
what is gosplan
1921 feb
state general planning commission
helped coordinate economic development
established by sovnarkom decree to advise a NEP
economic impact of nep
economy moving again small businesses and restaurants begun to thrive agriculture production recovered faster 1925- 25,000 private traders in moscow nepmen responsible for 75% trade
political impact of nep
ban of factions - difficult to express views about policies without seeming disloyal
1921 - political parties banned
SRs attempt to assassinate lenin
rigorous cencorship 1922 - criticisms of gov forbidden
political divisions over nep
zinoviev - nep temporary tactical retreat - had to be done to enable party remains in power
what is the scissor crisis
1923 - agricultural prices above agricultural goods
factories and workshops taking longer to rebuild and expand output
gap widened rapidly
gov capped industrial prices
crisis short lived - 1926 production levels reached again
lenins quote for nep backlash
two steps forward one step back
what was cheka renamed to
GPU (main political administration) 1922
made arrests and death penalties without reason
nomenklatura system
1923
influential posts in gov were filled by party
500 party and gov posts drawn up
loyalty - access to goods and services
who are nepmen
businesspeople in the early Soviet Union, who took advantage of the opportunities for private trade
hated by bolsheviks as they represented capitalism
tolerated as long as taxes were paid
what years was war communism
1918-21
what years was NEP
1921+
who were sackmen
peasants with sacks of goods to sell
who were kulaks
russian peasants who were wealthy enough to own a farm and hire labour
name the order of lenins policies
state capitalism
war communism
NEP
