the Russian economy 1918

Question 1

state capitalism

Answer 1

-a pragmatic approach, nationalisation needed to respond to problems faced
-said nationalisation would improve government efficiency
-run by economic experts
-control of nationalised industries centralised by vesenkha (group of Econ experts)

Question 2

role of vesenkha and how

Answer 2

what
-to ensure worker discipline
-factories properly managed
-co-ordinate economic production to ensure efficiency

how
-give most efficient workers higher pay
-factories to be managed by experts

Question 3

war communism

Answer 3

-needed to support the war economy and its survival
-was on the brink of collapse by 1918

threshold:
-high levels of industrial production
-allocate workers efficiently
-increase and maintain food productions to feed everyone

Question 4

implementation of war communism

Answer 4

-grain requisitioning: the Cheka would see grain and other foods to the peasants
-rationing: supply commissariat would allocate food. highest to workers and soldiers, lowest to bourgeoisie
-abolition of money: initially, government printed more money but it became worthless, so workers paid in rations
-abolition of trade: private trade was abolished
-completely industrialised economy
-conscription

Question 5

red terror

Answer 5

-30th august assassination attempt on Lenin led to widespread violence as the Bolsheviks expanded
-red terror used through red army and Cheka
-official estimates at 13k
-this could be as high as 500k