Bolshevik Economy Flashcards
(10 cards)
What was War Communism, and when was it introduced?
War Communism was a set of emergency economic policies introduced by the Bolsheviks from July 1918 to March 1921 during the Russian Civil War. It aimed to keep towns and the Red Army supplied with food and weapons by bringing the economy under centralized state control
What were the main reasons for introducing War Communism?
The Bolsheviks needed to maintain control during the Civil War.
They wanted to ensure food supplies for cities and the Red Army.
The economy was collapsing; inflation, food shortages, and industrial decline were rampant.
The Bolsheviks also aimed to abolish private enterprise and implement socialist principles rapidly
What were the main components and policies of War Communism?
Nationalization of industry: All major industries were brought under state control.
Centralized management: Factories were controlled by the Supreme Council of National Economy (Vesenkha).
Grain requisitioning: Surplus food from peasants was forcibly taken by requisition squads.
Ban on private trade: Illegal black markets developed as a result.
Labour discipline: Workers were tightly controlled; strikes were banned.
Rationing: Food was distributed centrally, prioritizing workers and soldiers
How did War Communism impact the Russian peasantry?
Grain requisitioning angered peasants, especially the kulaks, who resisted violently.
Peasants stopped producing surplus due to lack of profit motive.
Peasant uprisings were common (e.g., Tambov Rebellion)
What role did the black market play during War Communism?
Due to the ban on private trade, an illegal black market emerged to meet basic needs.
Many urban workers and peasants relied on it for food and goods.
The state failed to fully suppress it, highlighting the limits of government control
When and why was NEP introduced?
1921
Failure of War Communism: War Communism, which involved state terror to force peasants to produce grain, had failed.
What are the key features of NEP?
Relaxation of central economic control.
Requisitioning of grain was replaced by a tax in kind.
Peasants were allowed to retain and sell surplus food for profit.
Restoration of public markets.
Reintroduction of money as a trading medium
Why were there objections to NEP?
Trostky & Preobrazhensky – viewed it the degredation of Bolshevism, peasants should not be given in to
Reintroduction of money and private trading was creating a new class if nepmen – those who stood to gain from the free trading allowed under NEP
How did Lenin take action to prevent division within the bolshevik party, over NEP?
Introduced a ban on factions at the 10th party congress in 1921 Resolution “On Party Unity” (1921):
Ordered the immediate dissolution of all groups formed on the basis of specific platforms.
Strictly prohibited any form of factionalism.
Non-compliance would lead to immediate expulsion from the party
Results of NEP?
Grain harvest increased from 37 (millions of tonnes) in 1921 to 51 in 1924 suggesting that the policy was successful
