State Capitalism Flashcards
When was state capitalism?
October 1917 - July 1918
What conflicting pressured boxed in the Bolsheviks at the start of their regime?
1) Inherited economy in dire conditions - inflation, unemployment, low productivity
2) Expectations among workers and peasantry - for their grievances to be addressed - couldn’t be ignored - support was essential for survival
3) Left-wing Bolsheviks - headed by Bukharin - called for more or less instant transition to fully socialist economy - Lenin estimated this would have a seriously destabilising impact on economic life
What was Lenin’s strategy in the difficult circumstances when he entered into govt?
In what ways was this ineffective?
To do what he could to restore economic stability - while not dismissing demands of workers, peasants and left-wing Bolsheviks.
But his early economic policy lacked coherence, given the way he had to juggle priorities.
What did Lenin do in the early months of Bolshevik govt?
1) Much of Russia industry - still privatised - but their activities were monitored and directed by the state - Dec 1917: Supreme Council of National Economy (Vesenkha) - created to supervise industry + manage economy - reported to Sovnarkom
2) Peasantry appeased
3) Workers appeased
4) Limited nationalisation - banking industry, number of individual factories - including giant Putilov works in Petrograd + cases of ‘nationalisation from below’ - workers took control of enterprises and declared them to be state property
Define nationalisation.
The process of a govt taking control of a privately owned company or industry.
How were the peasantry appeased in the early months of Bolshevik govt?
Decree on Land (Nov 1917) - legitimised land seizures of 1917 - drew heavily on SR land policy - instrumental in persuading left SRs to join Lenin’s govt
How were workers appeased in the early months of Bolshevik govt?
Decree on Workers’ Control (Nov 1917) - gave industrial workers a say on how their factories were run - ensured manager treated them properly - didn’t, however, authorise workers to seize control of factories and run them themselves
