Russia - Chapter 11

What was the Great Turn?

Shift in economic policy in 1927-29 towards rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture.

What were the two key elements of the Great Turn?

Abandonment of NEP and enforcement of collectivization.

What problems were there in the Russian economy?

Strikes, managerial inefficiency, low levels of mechanization.

What were the statistics on the growth of collective farms?

By 1928, less than 5% of peasants were working on collective farms.

What were the key organizations involved in central planning?

Veshenka and Gosplan.

What was the NEP?

New Economic Policy, a partial return to free markets and private economic activity.

What was the Great Compromise of 1921?

Shift away from war communism towards NEP.

What was the goal of the Great Turn?

Rapid industrialization at any cost.

What marked the end of the first Leninist phase of the Bolshevik state?

The Great Turn.

What was the impact of the war and Civil War on the Russian economy?

Badly hit the industrial economy.

What were the criticisms of NEP?

Obstruction of central planners by NEPmen, interference by government officials.

What were kolkhozes and sovkhozes?

Voluntary collectives and state farms.

What was the level of enthusiasm for collective farms among peasants?

Little enthusiasm among peasants.

What was the degree of industrial recovery after 1921?

Slow and patchy.

What was the role of the Great Turn in the development of Stalinism?

It marked the start of Stalinism.

What was the previous economic policy before the Great Turn?

Continuation of NEP.

What was the view of many in the Party towards NEP?

They saw it as the way forward for the foreseeable future.

Why was agriculture critical to industrialisation?

Needed food supply for industrial workers and grain surplus for investment.

What were kolkhoz and sovkhoz?

Kolkhoz: peasant communes working as farm cooperatives. Sovkhoz: state-run farms given to landless peasants.

What is the difference between kolkhoz and sovkhoz?

Kolkhoz is a cooperative, while sovkhoz is state-controlled.

By 1928, what percentage of the peasantry lived on collective farms?

Less than 5% of the peasant population.

What can we learn from the low percentage of peasants on collective farms?

There was little enthusiasm for collective farms among peasants.

What did the letter from the farmer in 1924 suggest?

Peasants wanted private land ownership and a guaranteed wage.

What was the purpose of collectivisation?

To establish collective agriculture as a key aspect of communist ideology.

What were the problems of industrialisation linked to agriculture?

Regime needed sufficient food supply and grain surplus for investment.

What were kolkhozes and sovkhozes supposed to achieve?

To meet the food needs of industrial workers and pay for industrial investment.

Why was the growth of collective state farms slow?

There was little enthusiasm for them among peasants.

What was the role of kolkhozes in tsarist Russia?

Similar to peasant communes, working as farm cooperatives.

What was the role of sovkhozes in the Soviet Union?

State-run farms given to landless peasants.

What did the farmer's letter in 1924 criticize?

Incompetent leadership of the state and the calamities of the time.

What did the peasants want in terms of land ownership?

Private land ownership and a guaranteed wage.

What was the peasants' greatest wish?

A bit more land and a guaranteed wage.

When did collectivisation exist to a limited extent?

Since 1918.

What was the purpose of kolkhozes?

To work as farm cooperatives.

What was the purpose of sovkhozes?

To provide state-controlled employment for landless peasants.

Why were collective farms so important to communist ideology?

Collectivization socializes the peasantry and allows for efficient farming.

What is a command economy? How does it work (in theory)?

A top-down approach where the state controls the economy to enforce socialism.

What is GDP?

Gross Domestic Product: total value of all goods and services produced in a country.

What can we learn from fig. 2 on p. 97?

GDP dropped from 1919-21 due to war communism, then rose after 1921 (NEP) until 1925. From 1925-28, there was stagnation in GDP until 1929 when it started rising again.

What does the mnemonic M.A.G.S.I.P. stand for?

M.A.G.S.I.P. stands for the reasons behind the shift in policy: Management weaknesses, Agricultural crisis, Growth expectations, Self-sufficiency, Industrialization, and Party ideology.

What factors pushed the regime towards a shift in policy by 1927?

Serious weaknesses in industrial management, the need for increased production efficiency and improved quality of industrial goods, intertwined problems in industry and agriculture, harsh economic conditions for peasants and urban workers.

Why did the regime want to increase USSR's military strength and self-sufficiency?

To reduce reliance on foreign imports and develop a stronger military.

What was the crisis in grain procurement in winter of 1927-28?

There was a huge crisis in grain procurement where the amount of grain purchased by the government was 25% down on the previous year's total. Grain prices were low and peasant producers were focusing on other goods for higher prices.

Why did party officials blame peasants for 'hoarding' grain?

Party officials blamed peasants for 'hoarding' grain because they hoped for higher official prices.

Why did many in the Party want to revert to 'true' communist ideology in managing the economy?

Many in the Party believed that to move towards 'true socialism', it was essential to develop industry and not rely on purchasing grain from peasants. 'True socialism' also demanded state control over production.

What were the economic conditions faced by peasants and urban workers?

Peasants and urban workers faced shortages, unemployment, and low living standards.

Why was the drive towards industrialization perceived to be going too slowly?

The drive towards industrialization was perceived to be going too slowly because by 1927, the NEP was failing to produce the expected growth.

Why did the regime want to develop self-sufficiency?

The regime wanted to develop self-sufficiency to reduce reliance on foreign imports.

What did 'true socialism' demand in terms of state control?

'True socialism' demanded state control over production, rather than dependence on the peasantry for good grain harvests.

What were the problems in industrial management?

There were serious weaknesses in industrial management, which led to the need for increased production efficiency and improved quality of industrial goods.

Why did the regime blame peasants for the grain crisis?

The regime blamed peasants for the grain crisis because they believed peasants were hoarding grain instead of selling it to the government.

Why did the regime want to increase USSR's military strength?

The regime wanted to increase USSR's military strength to ensure national security.

Why did the regime want to improve the quality and lower the price of industrial goods?

The regime wanted to improve the quality and lower the price of industrial goods to meet the needs of the population.

Why were problems in industry and agriculture closely intertwined?

Problems in industry and agriculture were closely intertwined because both sectors were facing harsh economic conditions and needed improvement.

What were the key factors that pushed the regime towards a shift in policy?

The key factors were serious weaknesses in industrial management, the need for increased production efficiency, problems in industry and agriculture, and the desire to develop self-sufficiency and increase military strength.

What did the party officials complain about to Moscow?

Party officials complained to Moscow about peasants 'hoarding' grain and the low amount of grain purchased by the government.

What did the regime hope to achieve by shifting towards 'true socialism'?

The regime hoped to achieve state control over production and reduce dependence on the peasantry for grain harvests by shifting towards 'true socialism'.

What was Stalin's attitude towards economic policy?

Initially supported NEP, but became more radical later.

Why did Stalin's attitude towards economic policy change?

Possibly due to economic circumstances or feeling secure in power.

What did the Fourteenth Party Congress call for?

Transformation of the country from agrarian to industrial.

What happened in 1926 regarding NEP?

NEP was maintained, but concerns were raised about the need for more investment.

What was announced at the Fifteenth Party Congress in December 1927?

The end of NEP and the beginning of the First Five-Year Plan for rapid industrialization.

What are the differing views of historians on NEP and the Great Turn?

Cohen emphasizes all-party support for NEP, Nove claims NEP was working well but distorted by low prices, Davies suggests NEP saved the economy initially but needed to be changed for industrialization.

What does Stephen Cohen's book 'Bukharin and Bolshevik Revolution' (1973) emphasize?

All-party support for NEP and the correctness of Bukharin's policies.

What does Alec Nove's book 'An Economic History of the USSR' (1969) claim about NEP?

NEP was working well, but industrial production was distorted by low prices.

What view does R. W. Davies and other historians hold about NEP?

NEP saved the economy initially but could not provide a framework for large-scale industrialization.

What is the user's view on NEP?

NEP was a temporary remedy, and Russia needed to industrialize for self-sufficiency.

Why was the Great Turn so significant economically?

It began an economic revolution with lasting impact.

Why was the Great Turn so significant socially?

It had a massive impact on the lives of people in industrial towns and the countryside.

Why was the Great Turn so significant politically?

It led to debates and power struggles within the Party.

What was the 1st Five Year Plan?

Stalin's program for rapid industrialization.

What were the key economic focuses of the 1st Five Year Plan?

Developing heavy industry, boosting overall production, improving transport systems, and electrification.

How did the process of the 1st Five Year Plan work?

Ambitious targets were set to force maximum effort from managers and workers.

What was the role of targets in the 1st Five Year Plan?

Targets were intended to drive fulfillment of the plan.

What was the role of propaganda in the 1st Five Year Plan?

Propaganda was used to generate enthusiasm and make grandiose predictions of success.

Which industries were prioritized in the 1st Five Year Plan?

Heavy industry, coal, iron, steel, oil, machinery.

Why were these industries prioritized in the 1st Five Year Plan?

To transform society and the economy through industrialization.

What was the target for electric power generation in the 1st Five Year Plan?

To generate 6 times more electric power by 1933 than in 1928.

What was the impact of the Great Turn on the Soviet economy?

It had a lasting impact on the Soviet economy.

What was the impact of the Great Turn on the lives of people?

It had a massive impact on the lives of people in industrial towns and the countryside.

What was the impact of the Great Turn on debates and power struggles within the Party?

It intensified clashes of opinion and wills between Stalin and Bukharin.

What was the impact of the 1st Five Year Plan on industrialization?

It launched a program for rapid industrialization.

What was the impact of the 1st Five Year Plan on central planning?

It maximized central planning and set systematic targets for output increases.

What were the key targets?

Develop heavy industry, boost production, improve transport, electrification, increase agricultural production, double output of light industry.

What methods were employed to achieve targets?

Ambitious targets, propaganda, mass enthusiasm, new investment, infrastructure development.

Why might this be flawed?

Reliance on propaganda, unrealistic predictions, dependence on worker enthusiasm.

What was Magnitogorsk?

A steel city built in western Siberia as a showpiece of Soviet industry.

Define an 'industrial complex'

A large-scale industrial facility or area with multiple factories and industries.

What were some other examples of industrial complexes?

Stalinsk in the coal basin of Kuznetsh, new tractor factories in Stalingrad and Kharkiv.

Why was the 1st Five Year Plan so popular with many Communist Party members?

Stalin's rush to transform Russia through industrialisation + collectivisation aroused much enthusiasm + high expectations in many sections of society.

Who, in particular, found the 1st Five Year Plan popular?

Many elements in Party membership pleased to see commitment to radical social change + end to compromised of NEP.

Why was the 1st Five Year Plan popular with urban workers?

Urban workers hoped for better employment prospects + higher living standard.

Why was the 1st Five Year Plan popular with poorer peasants?

Many poor + 'middle' peasants were led to hope they would benefit from further land reform + introduction of more modern methods.

What opposition was there within the party to rapid industrialisation?

Many in party saw kulaks as backbone of agricultural economy; they were fearful that harsh imposition of collectivisation would result in less food being produced.

Why did some oppose the oppression of the 'kulaks'?

Many in party saw kulaks as backbone of agricultural economy; they were fearful that harsh imposition of collectivisation would result in less food being produced.

Why did some oppose the centrally planned process?

Many of those managing industrial production were already critical of adverse impact of central planning + were not persuaded that huge, new emphasis on central planning would magically solve problems of industry; they regarded new policy as high-risk gamble.

What problems existed on state farms?

Unproductive and unpopular with peasantry.

Why didn't state farms work?

Lack of productivity and unpopularity with the peasantry.

What was the decision made regarding collectivization?

To push through massive acceleration of collectivization.

When did the decision to accelerate collectivization occur?

Between late 1927 and December 1929.