The Economy Under Stalin - Industrial Development

Question 1

What was the evolution of economy policy?

Answer 1

-1925 14th party Congress called ‘transformation of country from agrarian to Ind’
-1926 NEP maintained despite concerns as more investment needed to drive Ind
-dec 1927 15th PC announce end NEP + beginning of 1st 5YP for rapid Ind (the great turn)

Question 2

What was the great turn?

Answer 2

-move from NEL to 5YPs + collectivisation of agri
-move to central planning + making gov responsible for econ coordination ‘command econ’

Question 3

What did they believe the great turn would lead to?

Answer 3

-new ind growth would build self-sufficient + lead to truly ‘socialist’ state

Question 4

What was stalins great durn driven by?

Answer 4

-econ factors
-wanting increase USSR military strength + develop self-sufficient to reduce reliance on imports due to war scares late 20s

Question 5

What was essential in the move to a truly ‘socialist state’?

Answer 5

-develop Ind + not have state dependent on peasants + grain harvests
-suited Stalin personal style to have strong central control over econ ‘central planning’

Question 6

What were the 5YP?

Answer 6

-econ programme for Ind growth

Question 7

What were the targets set in the 5YPs?

Answer 7

-targets very ambitious
-intended to force managers + workers to devote maximum efforts to programme

Question 8

What was a limitation to these plans?

Answer 8

-failure achieve target a criminal offence
-workers went great lengths ensure reported stats showed huge improvements - often way above targets set

Question 9

What was the result of these great lengths?

Answer 9

-corruption + quantity over quality
-faulty reporting built into system from the outset