Stalin’s Stalin’s Economic Economic ObjectivesObjectives

An introductionAn introduction

TrotskyTrotsky

Key Ideas:Key Ideas: IdealisticIdealistic. . Committed to “Permanent Revolution” Committed to “Permanent Revolution”

within the USSR (War Communism”) within the USSR (War Communism”) and “World Revolution” around the and “World Revolution” around the globeglobe

Good Point: Ideologically soundGood Point: Ideologically sound Bad Point: Dangerous in practiceBad Point: Dangerous in practice

BukharinBukharin

Key Ideas:Key Ideas: PragmaticPragmatic.. Eager to consolidate Bolshevism in Eager to consolidate Bolshevism in

USSR slowly (NEP) before promoting USSR slowly (NEP) before promoting further revolutions elsewhere. further revolutions elsewhere.

Good point: Safer in practiceGood point: Safer in practice Bad Point: Ideologically unsoundBad Point: Ideologically unsound

StalinStalin

Stalin played each group off against Stalin played each group off against each other, and then formed his own each other, and then formed his own policy based around their best points. policy based around their best points.

Discussion Point – what do you think Discussion Point – what do you think the essential nature of this policy could the essential nature of this policy could be? (n.b. think of methods as well as be? (n.b. think of methods as well as objectives – will it focus on agriculture objectives – will it focus on agriculture or industry, for example?)or industry, for example?)

Stalin’s idea: “Socialism in Stalin’s idea: “Socialism in one Country”one Country”

Like Trotsky, he was keen to show Like Trotsky, he was keen to show himself committed to revolutionary himself committed to revolutionary socialism; socialism;

Like Bukharin, he nevertheless Like Bukharin, he nevertheless stressed the need to consolidate stressed the need to consolidate Bolshevism in the USSR before Bolshevism in the USSR before anything else. anything else.

He called this policy ‘Socialism in He called this policy ‘Socialism in one Country’ (1925).one Country’ (1925).

Stalin’s Method: The Five-Stalin’s Method: The Five-Year PlansYear Plans

““We are fifty to a hundred years behind We are fifty to a hundred years behind the advanced countries. Either we make the advanced countries. Either we make good this difference in ten years or we good this difference in ten years or we shall be crushed”.shall be crushed”.

““The fundamental task of the Five Year The fundamental task of the Five Year Plan is to convert the USSR from an Plan is to convert the USSR from an agrarian and weak country dependent agrarian and weak country dependent on the caprices of the capitalist on the caprices of the capitalist countries, into an industrial and countries, into an industrial and powerful country, fully self-reliant and powerful country, fully self-reliant and independent of world capitalism”.independent of world capitalism”.

Reaction of the Reaction of the PartyParty

Stalin’s rejection of the Stalin’s rejection of the NEP was broadly NEP was broadly

accepted for economic accepted for economic and diplomatic reasons.and diplomatic reasons.

Reaction of the Party - Reaction of the Party - EconomicEconomic

The NEP was failing. There was a The NEP was failing. There was a growing ‘Scissors Crisis’ – agriculture growing ‘Scissors Crisis’ – agriculture was recovering much more quickly than was recovering much more quickly than industry, with the result that food prices industry, with the result that food prices were falling whilst industrial prices were falling whilst industrial prices continued to rise, meaning that farmers continued to rise, meaning that farmers were starting to cut back on production. were starting to cut back on production.

The government tried both The government tried both requisitioning (the ‘Urals-Siberian requisitioning (the ‘Urals-Siberian Method’ of 1927) and raising the price of Method’ of 1927) and raising the price of grain (1928) but neither tactic provided grain (1928) but neither tactic provided a solution and rationing was introduced a solution and rationing was introduced into Leningrad and Moscow in 1929.into Leningrad and Moscow in 1929.

Reaction of the Party - Reaction of the Party - DiplomaticDiplomatic

The moderation of the NEP had The moderation of the NEP had produced a brief thaw in the USSR’s produced a brief thaw in the USSR’s relations with the west but by 1926 relations with the west but by 1926 things were freezing over again. things were freezing over again.

Germany was allowed to join the league Germany was allowed to join the league in 1926, leaving the USSR the only in 1926, leaving the USSR the only major nation not a member. major nation not a member.

The same year, Marshal Pilsudski – a The same year, Marshal Pilsudski – a White army commander – took control White army commander – took control of Poland. of Poland.

In 1927, the British government broke In 1927, the British government broke off diplomatic relations after a off diplomatic relations after a suspected communist plot. suspected communist plot.

Collectivisation Collectivisation of Agricultureof Agriculture

Why was it introduced?Why was it introduced?

To solve the food shortage-grain To solve the food shortage-grain production levels would increaseproduction levels would increase

To raise the money for To raise the money for industrialisationindustrialisation

To destroy political rivals - 1928 he To destroy political rivals - 1928 he had destroyed the Trotskyists but had destroyed the Trotskyists but only with the support of Bukarin, only with the support of Bukarin, Rykov and Tomsky. By swinging Rykov and Tomsky. By swinging back to the Left he could isolate themback to the Left he could isolate them

What obstacles faced What obstacles faced Stalin in this regard?Stalin in this regard?

USSR covered 22 million square USSR covered 22 million square kilometreskilometres

Farming methods were primitive and Farming methods were primitive and inefficientinefficient

Peasants are traditionally very Peasants are traditionally very independent and resist interferenceindependent and resist interference

The Kulaks owned 90% of Russia’s most The Kulaks owned 90% of Russia’s most fertile landfertile land

Bolsheviks are urban in background and Bolsheviks are urban in background and do not understand these compleitiesdo not understand these compleities

What was the difference What was the difference between Kolkhoz and Sovkhoz?between Kolkhoz and Sovkhoz?

Kolkhoz = Collective farms - Kolkhoz = Collective farms - conglomeration of smaller farms; conglomeration of smaller farms; peasants given a share of the surplus peasants given a share of the surplus production after the state takes its production after the state takes its shareshare

Sovkhoz = State farms - brand new Sovkhoz = State farms - brand new model farms created in the model farms created in the wilderness; peasants paid a wage by wilderness; peasants paid a wage by the statethe state

Benefits to the Soviet Benefits to the Soviet Economy?Economy?

Economies of scale - cheaper and Economies of scale - cheaper and increased output following from increased output following from increased efficiency and increased efficiency and specialisation of labour and specialisation of labour and produce - therefore cheaper pricesproduce - therefore cheaper prices

What benefits would it What benefits would it bring to peasants?bring to peasants?

Schools, hospitals, nurseriesSchools, hospitals, nurseries

Resistance to Resistance to collectivisation?collectivisation?

It would spell an end to their It would spell an end to their independenceindependence

When was enforced When was enforced collectivisation put into collectivisation put into practice?practice?

The 1927 party congress set an The 1927 party congress set an objective of 20% of farmers to be “c”, objective of 20% of farmers to be “c”, by 1933by 1933

In Dec 1929 the Central Committee In Dec 1929 the Central Committee changed this objective to the complete changed this objective to the complete “c” of the more important regions by “c” of the more important regions by the end of 1930 and everywhere else by the end of 1930 and everywhere else by the end of 1932the end of 1932

How was it carried out?How was it carried out?

25 000 Police and red Army units 25 000 Police and red Army units confiscated grain and livestock to feed confiscated grain and livestock to feed the towns and citiesthe towns and cities

Villages were given quotas of Kulaks to Villages were given quotas of Kulaks to surrender to the authoritiessurrender to the authorities

Motor Tractor Stations (MTS) were set Motor Tractor Stations (MTS) were set up all over so “c’s” could hire machinery up all over so “c’s” could hire machinery and have their grain collectedand have their grain collected

By March 1930 almost 60% of all farms By March 1930 almost 60% of all farms had been collectivisedhad been collectivised

What was the reaction of What was the reaction of the Kulaksthe Kulaks

Sold their grain off cheaply, Sold their grain off cheaply, slaughtered their animals, slaughtered their animals, destroyed their tools and burned destroyed their tools and burned down their own houses. Livestock down their own houses. Livestock levels were not to recover to 1928 levels were not to recover to 1928 levels until 1953levels until 1953

Stalin’s response?Stalin’s response?

He decided to “Liquidate the He decided to “Liquidate the Kulaks as a class” in Jan 1930 (ex Kulaks as a class” in Jan 1930 (ex only a month after the programme only a month after the programme started!)started!)

Elimination of the KulaksElimination of the Kulaks

In 1930, Stalin decided to “Liquidate the In 1930, Stalin decided to “Liquidate the Kulaks as a class”. He divided them Kulaks as a class”. He divided them into 3 groups, each treated differentlyinto 3 groups, each treated differently

Group #1: Most hostile and Group #1: Most hostile and reactionary. Shot or imprisonedreactionary. Shot or imprisoned

Group #2: Families of Group #1. Group #2: Families of Group #1. Deported to GULAGS in Siberia to work Deported to GULAGS in Siberia to work as slave labouras slave labour

Group #3: Other Kulaks. Resettled in Group #3: Other Kulaks. Resettled in barren areasbarren areas

What evidence that 1930 What evidence that 1930 got out of control?got out of control?

One family was deported because One family was deported because it owned a cow and a halfit owned a cow and a half

Many died on the way to SiberiaMany died on the way to Siberia Common slogan was “Moscow Common slogan was “Moscow

does not believe in tears”does not believe in tears”

How did Stalin explain How did Stalin explain himself?himself?

Blamed over-enthusiastic party Blamed over-enthusiastic party officials and called for them to be officials and called for them to be removed from their postsremoved from their posts

The total number of collectivised The total number of collectivised farms fell from 60% to 20% by the farms fell from 60% to 20% by the end of the yearend of the year

How did he moderate the How did he moderate the policy for the rest of the policy for the rest of the year?year?

Offered a concession to peasants - each Offered a concession to peasants - each could cultivate a small area and keep could cultivate a small area and keep some animalssome animals

This “mini NEP” lasted until the end of This “mini NEP” lasted until the end of the year, when collectivisation was the year, when collectivisation was pursued with renewed intensitypursued with renewed intensity

By 1931 half the peasantry was “c’ed” By 1931 half the peasantry was “c’ed” againagain

Following year saw a terrible famineFollowing year saw a terrible famine