State Capitalism

Question 1

Why did Lenin believe that the government would have to manage the existing economic structure?

Answer 1

Lenin believed Socialism could only develop in an industrialised society, thus ‘State Capitalism’ was required until the conditions were right for Socialism.
Though many Bolsheviks wanted sweeping nationalisation and radical reform, Lenin envisaged a long transition to Socialism

Question 2

What was the motivation behind the ‘Socialisation of Land’ Policy?

Answer 2

It reduced the SRs appeal and gave incentive for the peasants to produce grain

Question 3

What was the motivation behind the Decree on Workers’ Control of Factories, Nov, 1917?

Answer 3

It simply acknowledged the realities of what had been happening prior
The ineffectiveness of the ban on nationalisation from below in January and April, 1918, demonstrate how such decrees could easily be ignored

Question 4

What early measures did the Bolsheviks take to nationalise the economy?

Answer 4

The establishment of Veshenka in December, 1917
The nationalisation of the banks in December, 1917
The Decree on Nationalisation in February, 1918

Question 5

What were the main problems with state capitalism?

Answer 5

Workers failed to organise factories efficiently because they lacked the skills needed for successful management.
This caused output to shrink at a time when it was vital to maintain it.

Question 6

Why did critics on the left complain?

Answer 6

‘Bourgeois methods’ were being used to build up the economy

Question 7

What example did Viktor Serge give of ill-discipline in factories?

Answer 7

Workers making soles from conveyor belts