Soviet Union's Economic and Political Transformation: 1927-1939
Classified in History
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The New Economic Policy (NEP) and its Impact
The idea of the NEP was to restore a limited form of capitalism to rebuild the economy. The state retained control of credit, railway companies, and banks, while farmers could sell their surplus. The revitalization of the economy was noticeable. However, the NEP brought problems that divided the Communist Party, leading to accusations of creating a new bourgeoisie. Despite this, the NEP resulted in raising the economy.
The Stalinist Period (1927-1939)
The Succession of Lenin: Lenin was removed from power due to illness. Two other candidates emerged: Trotsky (Soviet President in St. Petersburg) and Stalin (who organized the October Revolution). Stalin eventually controlled power in the USSR and defended "socialism in one country." After Lenin's death, Trotsky's influence weakened, and he lost his positions. He was deported and sent to Siberia, eventually ending his days in Mexico, where he was assassinated by an agent of Stalin.
Socialization and Planning
Between 1927 and 1939, the NEP was abandoned, and the economy was presented as a socialist response to liberal capitalism.
The First Five-Year Plan
The private sector disappeared, labor became more specialized, and industry developed. Collectivization was implemented in the agricultural sector, which was the main problem, leading to conflict with landowners. Ultimately, private property disappeared. This resulted in the deaths of many workers, the loss of livestock, and a shortage of agricultural laborers.
The Second Five-Year Plan
Industrial production doubled, and living conditions improved.
Stalin's Dictatorship
Stalin established a dictatorship, even within the Communist Party. He conducted purges, targeting those he deemed opponents. The entire party fell under Stalin's control. By 1939, at the beginning of World War II, private property had been abolished, and the country had industrialized. The USSR became a global economic power.
The Soviet Role in the World
The labor movement became a threat to liberal, capitalist society. The revolution brought enthusiasm to a large proportion of the working classes. In 1920, the USSR managed to break its international isolation and establish relations with other countries. Fascists considered the USSR their greatest enemy and ideological opponent.
The Third International
Many sought to copy the expansion of the Soviet Union. Discrepancies between Communists and socialist labor sectors weakened popular fronts.