Stalin’s Economic Objectives An introduction

Trotsky Key Ideas: Key Ideas: Idealistic. Idealistic. Committed to “Permanent Revolution” within the USSR (War Communism”) and “World Revolution” around the globe Committed to “Permanent Revolution” within the USSR (War Communism”) and “World Revolution” around the globe Good Point: Ideologically sound Good Point: Ideologically sound Bad Point: Dangerous in practice Bad Point: Dangerous in practice

Bukharin Key Ideas: Key Ideas: Pragmatic. Pragmatic. Eager to consolidate Bolshevism in USSR slowly (NEP) before promoting further revolutions elsewhere. Eager to consolidate Bolshevism in USSR slowly (NEP) before promoting further revolutions elsewhere. Good point: Safer in practice Good point: Safer in practice Bad Point: Ideologically unsound Bad Point: Ideologically unsound

Stalin Stalin played each group off against each other, and then formed his own policy based around their best points. Stalin played each group off against each other, and then formed his own policy based around their best points. Discussion Point – what do you think the essential nature of this policy could be? (n.b. think of methods as well as objectives – will it focus on agriculture or industry, for example?)‏ Discussion Point – what do you think the essential nature of this policy could be? (n.b. think of methods as well as objectives – will it focus on agriculture or industry, for example?)‏

Stalin’s idea: “Socialism in one Country” Like Trotsky, he was keen to show himself committed to revolutionary socialism; Like Trotsky, he was keen to show himself committed to revolutionary socialism; Like Bukharin, he nevertheless stressed the need to consolidate Bolshevism in the USSR before anything else. Like Bukharin, he nevertheless stressed the need to consolidate Bolshevism in the USSR before anything else. He called this policy ‘Socialism in one Country’ (1925). He called this policy ‘Socialism in one Country’ (1925).

Stalin’s Method: The Five-Year Plans “We are fifty to a hundred years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good this difference in ten years or we shall be crushed”. “We are fifty to a hundred years behind the advanced countries. Either we make good this difference in ten years or we shall be crushed”. “The fundamental task of the Five Year Plan is to convert the USSR from an agrarian and weak country dependent on the caprices of the capitalist countries, into an industrial and powerful country, fully self-reliant and independent of world capitalism”. “The fundamental task of the Five Year Plan is to convert the USSR from an agrarian and weak country dependent on the caprices of the capitalist countries, into an industrial and powerful country, fully self-reliant and independent of world capitalism”.

Reaction of the Party Stalin’s rejection of the NEP was broadly accepted for economic and diplomatic reasons.

Reaction of the Party - Economic The NEP was failing. There was a growing ‘Scissors Crisis’ – agriculture was recovering much more quickly than industry, with the result that food prices were falling whilst industrial prices continued to rise, meaning that farmers were starting to cut back on production. The NEP was failing. There was a growing ‘Scissors Crisis’ – agriculture was recovering much more quickly than industry, with the result that food prices were falling whilst industrial prices continued to rise, meaning that farmers were starting to cut back on production. The government tried both requisitioning (the ‘Urals-Siberian Method’ of 1927) and raising the price of grain (1928) but neither tactic provided a solution and rationing was introduced into Leningrad and Moscow in The government tried both requisitioning (the ‘Urals-Siberian Method’ of 1927) and raising the price of grain (1928) but neither tactic provided a solution and rationing was introduced into Leningrad and Moscow in 1929.

Reaction of the Party - Diplomatic The moderation of the NEP had produced a brief thaw in the USSR’s relations with the west but by 1926 things were freezing over again. The moderation of the NEP had produced a brief thaw in the USSR’s relations with the west but by 1926 things were freezing over again. Germany was allowed to join the league in 1926, leaving the USSR the only major nation not a member. Germany was allowed to join the league in 1926, leaving the USSR the only major nation not a member. The same year, Marshal Pilsudski – a White army commander – took control of Poland. The same year, Marshal Pilsudski – a White army commander – took control of Poland. In 1927, the British government broke off diplomatic relations after a suspected communist plot. In 1927, the British government broke off diplomatic relations after a suspected communist plot.

Collectivisation of Agriculture

Why was it introduced? To solve the food shortage-grain production levels would increase To solve the food shortage-grain production levels would increase To raise the money for industrialisation To raise the money for industrialisation To destroy political rivals he had destroyed the Trotskyists but only with the support of Bukarin, Rykov and Tomsky. By swinging back to the Left he could isolate them To destroy political rivals he had destroyed the Trotskyists but only with the support of Bukarin, Rykov and Tomsky. By swinging back to the Left he could isolate them

What obstacles faced Stalin in this regard? USSR covered 22 million square kilometres USSR covered 22 million square kilometres Farming methods were primitive and inefficient Farming methods were primitive and inefficient Peasants are traditionally very independent and resist interference Peasants are traditionally very independent and resist interference The Kulaks owned 90% of Russia’s most fertile land The Kulaks owned 90% of Russia’s most fertile land Bolsheviks are urban in background and do not understand these compleities Bolsheviks are urban in background and do not understand these compleities

What was the difference between Kolkhoz and Sovkhoz? Kolkhoz = Collective farms - conglomeration of smaller farms; peasants given a share of the surplus production after the state takes its share Kolkhoz = Collective farms - conglomeration of smaller farms; peasants given a share of the surplus production after the state takes its share Sovkhoz = State farms - brand new model farms created in the wilderness; peasants paid a wage by the state Sovkhoz = State farms - brand new model farms created in the wilderness; peasants paid a wage by the state

Benefits to the Soviet Economy? Economies of scale - cheaper and increased output following from increased efficiency and specialisation of labour and produce - therefore cheaper prices Economies of scale - cheaper and increased output following from increased efficiency and specialisation of labour and produce - therefore cheaper prices

What benefits would it bring to peasants? Schools, hospitals, nurseries Schools, hospitals, nurseries

Resistance to collectivisation? It would spell an end to their independence It would spell an end to their independence

When was enforced collectivisation put into practice? The 1927 party congress set an objective of 20% of farmers to be “c”, by 1933 The 1927 party congress set an objective of 20% of farmers to be “c”, by 1933 In Dec 1929 the Central Committee changed this objective to the complete “c” of the more important regions by the end of 1930 and everywhere else by the end of 1932 In Dec 1929 the Central Committee changed this objective to the complete “c” of the more important regions by the end of 1930 and everywhere else by the end of 1932

How was it carried out? Police and red Army units confiscated grain and livestock to feed the towns and cities Police and red Army units confiscated grain and livestock to feed the towns and cities Villages were given quotas of Kulaks to surrender to the authorities Villages were given quotas of Kulaks to surrender to the authorities Motor Tractor Stations (MTS) were set up all over so “c’s” could hire machinery and have their grain collected Motor Tractor Stations (MTS) were set up all over so “c’s” could hire machinery and have their grain collected By March 1930 almost 60% of all farms had been collectivised By March 1930 almost 60% of all farms had been collectivised

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

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

Elimination of the Kulaks In 1930, Stalin decided to “Liquidate the Kulaks as a class”. He divided them into 3 groups, each treated differently In 1930, Stalin decided to “Liquidate the Kulaks as a class”. He divided them into 3 groups, each treated differently Group #1: Most hostile and reactionary. Shot or imprisoned Group #1: Most hostile and reactionary. Shot or imprisoned Group #2: Families of Group #1. Deported to GULAGS in Siberia to work as slave labour Group #2: Families of Group #1. Deported to GULAGS in Siberia to work as slave labour Group #3: Other Kulaks. Resettled in barren areas Group #3: Other Kulaks. Resettled in barren areas

What evidence that 1930 got out of control? One family was deported because it owned a cow and a half One family was deported because it owned a cow and a half Many died on the way to Siberia Many died on the way to Siberia Common slogan was “Moscow does not believe in tears” Common slogan was “Moscow does not believe in tears”

How did Stalin explain himself? Blamed over-enthusiastic party officials and called for them to be removed from their posts Blamed over-enthusiastic party officials and called for them to be removed from their posts The total number of collectivised farms fell from 60% to 20% by the end of the year The total number of collectivised farms fell from 60% to 20% by the end of the year

How did he moderate the policy for the rest of the year? Offered a concession to peasants - each could cultivate a small area and keep some animals Offered a concession to peasants - each could cultivate a small area and keep some animals This “mini NEP” lasted until the end of the year, when collectivisation was pursued with renewed intensity This “mini NEP” lasted until the end of the year, when collectivisation was pursued with renewed intensity By 1931 half the peasantry was “c’ed” again By 1931 half the peasantry was “c’ed” again Following year saw a terrible famine Following year saw a terrible famine