Lenin’s Economy Flashcards
What was essential to build socialism?
Economic Revolution
Lenin’s 4 economic objectives
- Modernisation
- Consolidation
- Military victory
- Destroy Capitalism
Modernisation Objective:
Economy must be highly advanced from the Feudal society of the Tsars
Consolidation Objective
Economic Stability and advancement was essential to help Lenin retain Bolshevik hold on power.
Gain more supporters.
Military Victory Objective
Lenin needed a strong economy to supply his Red Army and win the Civil War - maintain hold on power.
Destroy Capitalism Objective
Lenin wanted to create an economy which was highly more effective than capitalism, which ended economic innequality
When did nationalisation of industry begin?
March 1918
What was the heart of Lenin’s economic policy 1918-24
Large scale nationalisation
State Capitalism introduction date?
March 1918
Explain STATE CAPITALISM
- an economic phase between Capitalism and Communism
- nationalisation of large-scale industry
- ended capitalism by passing ownership of industry from the capitalists to the State (centralisation)
What did Lenin hope state capitalism would do?
More efficient industry
Vesenkha job
To centralise control of the now national industries
What would make State Capitalism more effective and efficient?
The govt could employ economic experts to run the economy.
Centralisation of national industries (by Vesenkha) would: 3 + explain how
- reestablish worker discipline (offer high pay to hard workers)
- factories properly managed (controlled by well-paid experts)
- economy could be coordinated (tailored to meet needs of society)
War Communism - forever or temporary?
Lenin wanted it to be temporary - just to secure Bolshevik power in the civil war.
Civil war start date
Summer 1918
What was War Communism in broad terms?
A series of EMERGENCY ECONOMIC measures to ensure the communists won the civil war
WAR Communism measures: (4)
- nationalisation of ALL industry
- food dictatorship
- labour discipline
- abolition of the market
Explained on other card…
Food Dictatorship: (war communism)
- food free market abolished
- grain requisitioned from peasants
- distributed according to the SUPPLY COMMISSARIAT
Supply Commissariat (WC)
Govt Body which decided which groups given the most food during requisitioning in war communism.
Food distribution from the Supply Commissariat (war communism)
- Soldiers and workers got largest rationing
- bourgeoise given least
How was Labour Discipline enforced (war communism):
- 11 hr working day introduced
- work compulsory for men 16-50
Why was the market abolished? (war communism)
- money worthless due to hyperinflation
- => money abolished
- private trade also made illegal
Did war communism lead to victory?
100%
Negatives of War Communism?
- destroyed incentive to work - not rewarded for outstanding effort
- 1920 famine consequences exacerbated
- less workers in cities
Why did War Comm exacerbate Famine (1920)
1921 harvest only 46% of 1913 harvest
REQUISITIONING = No food for farmers
Date of Famine?
1920
Famine 1920 Deaths?
6 million dead
Why did War Communism lead to industrial workers shortages?
- workers fled cities to find food
- declined from 2.6 million (1917) —> 1.2 million in 1921
What policy did the 1921 economic crisis lead to?
NEW ECONOMIC POLICY
Key features of state capitalism:
- land decree
- workers control
- peoples bank of Russian republic
- veshenka (supreme council of the national economy)
Key features of war communism:
- removal of currency (hyperinflation)
- military style discipline
- private trade banned
- NATIONALISATION
- grain requisitioning
- rationing
Key features of the NEP
- end to requisitioning - replaced with tax
- no collectivisation to compromise with the peasantry
- returned small scale industry to private
- bonuses, managers
- growth of small scale businesses
- currency and wages
