Stalin's Economic Policies Essay Example

How successful was Stalin's economic policy? I agree they were mostly successful, because they met their overarching goals of modernizing and developing Russia as rapidly as possible to catch up and compete with the others. The Russian people, on the other hand, paid a high price for its success.

Nikolai Bukharin had been the most vocal advocate of Lenin's New Economic Policy by 1924, the year of his death. After Joseph Stalin rose to power during the Great Depression, the USSR abandoned NEP in 1928.

The First Five Year Plan was a Stalin-created economic policy based on his notion of Socialism in One Country. It was envisioned that the Soviet Union would be transformed into an industrial force capable of competing with its European rivals. The state then adopted industrial growth targets in 1928, which were optimistic considering the short time frame of five years to accomplish the targets. Agriculture was collectivized by the state to make it more efficient. People were urged to move and work in large industrial factories developed in cities. Stalin claimed that the Soviet Union was decades behind every other major European state, and that this forced revolution was necessary to close the gap. Because he anticipated an attack from the West, Stalin was adamant about catching up to other European powers. He believed that rapid industrialization would better prepare the Soviet Union for war. The Soviet Union has been experiencing economic issues since the Bolshevik revolution, and this was an ambitious attempt to turn things around.

During the Five-Year Plan, the Soviet economy grew at a rate of 14% per year. The most noticeable success was the rapid expansion of heavy industry, which included the steel, iron, coal, and oil industries. Within four years, industrial production nearly doubled. Several other economic sectors showed significant gains in output as well. Consumer products surged by over 90%, while capital goods increased by approximately 160 %. Even though many of the planned goals were not met during the five-year period, the industry's and economy's expansion is unquestionably a great success. By the end of the plan, the Soviet industrial workforce had doubled, and society had undergone a social revolution, with millions of people leaving rural areas to seek a new life in the city. In terms of industrialization, it was a success because it began the Soviet Union's route to become a global economic and industrial force. In 1933, Stalin called the plan a success, claiming that there were no heavy industries prior to the start of the plan, but that after five years, some were fast increasing.

The Soviet Union's First Five-Year Plan was designed to prepare them for an industrialized war against one of its European neighbours. The Soviet Union's triumph against Germany in WW2 confirmed the First Five-Year Plan's success. 

The Germans overestimated the Soviets' capacity to organize swiftly, which led to the Red Army's success at the Battle of Moscow and on the Eastern Front. By successfully defending Moscow from German attack, Stalin put an end to Hitler's plan for a swift German victory in the USSR. Stalin immediately launched his own counter-offensive, moving 18 divisions across 2,500 miles from Siberia to Moscow. Without the fast industrialization brought about by the First Five-Year Plan, the Soviet Union would have been doomed. The Soviet Union was able to win the war because to mass industrialization, which provided them with enough vehicles, ammunition, and other vital equipment.

Yet, when the plan was considered complete, the majority of the massive construction projects that had been undertaken remained unfinished. Although industrial production increased, most of the targets were not met. Consumption was expected to rise, but instead it plummeted. Because the quotas were unreasonable for such a short amount of time, the plan failed to meet its objectives. There were no objectives stated for the strategy, and even if a quota was met, it was increased, ensuring that the plan would fail. Even though several industries were in crisis, the government continued to expect more rapid outcomes. The quality of the products and materials suffered because of this, casting doubt on Stalin's stated success.

It converted the Soviet Union from an agricultural to an industrial force, but at cost of the Russian people. The country was during a large-scale famine by the end of the Five-Year Plan, 1932. The famine was the worst in history, and it was brought about by aggressive industrialization practices. While waiting in long lines for their supplies, some individuals died of frostbite. Ukraine and Crimea had the worst of it, with the highest number of deaths. The Soviet regime had the ability to end the famine, but it chose to sacrifice its people for political and economic gain. The administration insisted on the continuation of grain collecting, with grain being sent from rural areas to cities to feed the industrial workforce. The failure of the government to respond to the crisis resulted in long-term conflicts between Russians and ethnic minorities. The Kulaks were exterminated because of Stalin's collectivization. The Kulaks were accused of being people's enemies, and were slaughtered, while millions were detained and forced to work in labour camps. Because they opposed to collectivization, the state took their land and utilized it for collectivization. 

Those who were sent to the Gulags were compelled to work on engineering projects, and tens of thousands died because of their labour. This demonstrated the Soviet State's total contempt for human life.

When considering the policy's human and social consequences, the First Five-Year Plan is regarded as a significant failure. Thousands of people were moving to cities and towns every day in search of factory work. These cities were unprepared for the rapid population development, which put a strain on housing and social services. 

The demand for consumer goods has outstripped supply. Cities had poor living circumstances, but working conditions were considerably worse. The Soviet Union had little regard for the lives of its citizens, just for economic and political gain. The appalling living and working conditions ran counter to the goals of a Marxist society, which was supposed to empower the proletariat.

To conclude, the First Five-Year Plan was a huge success. The Soviet economy grew, and industrial production in all major industries increased, making the First Five-Year Plan a financial success. The Soviet Union built a substantial heavy industry. The triumph of the Soviet Union over Germany in WWII demonstrated the plan's efficacy. The plan was a success, but not a resounding success; the USSR failed to meet the goals set forth in the First Five-Year Plan. Famine killed millions due to fast industrialization and collectivization. Many people perished because of forced labour camps. There was a disregard for the lives of Russians if economic benefits were made. Although economically successful, millions had suffered.