Asses the view that Stalin\'s economic policies were a success PDF

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Asses the view that Stalin’s economic policies were a success Plan: Introduction – aims of his economic policy of the five-year plans were to turn the Soviet Union into a modern world power. (Self-sufficient and militarily strong socialist state) and to demonstrate the superiority of communism over capitalism (Western powers) by proving that a modern USSR could out produce the leading capitalist nations. The first three five-year plans did make Russia leading industrial power and prepare Russia for ww2 with Germany. But did have failures, in terms of poor-quality products as well as illegal trading happening gin the black market but was overall a success 

Fives year plans – 1st one was overall a success in terms of increasing production in terms of coal and steel industries. Made European industrial power – due to the wall street crash for UK and America. Also, Stalin’s aims to industrialise were met under collectivisation as it meant that there were less farmers needed and so it provided more industrial workers. However, it did lead to a black market being spread which couldn’t be controlled by the police. Illegally trading. Not contributing to the economic growth of Russia as the government were not in control of the trading going on. However, although there was the black-market Russia’s economy was still thriving under the five-year plan as electricity production trebled steel production increased by a third.

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Second year plan – was successful to moderate extent as it developed new chemical industry making Russia’s economy thrive even more. Anas well as encouraging more workers to work harder due to the example of Alexei Stakhanov – government propaganda as he produced 14x more coal in 6 hours shift and was rewarded with apartment and luxuries. However, it meant that although production was increasing rapidly the quality of the products being manufactured were becoming of a low quality however, it still fulfilled stalins economical aims of making Russia modernised in order to allow Russia to become stable enough to be a communist country and leading European industrial power as it did increase Russia’s resources than before.

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Third year plan – economic aims were to be able to prepare Russia for war with Germany – increase production. Moderate extent success as it did increase theprouduction of very crucial innovations for soviet military thecnologuy for example, in 1939 Gosplan ordered the construction of 9 aircraft factories. Also coal poruction was still increasing over the years for 128 million in 1937 to 166 mllion in 1940. However, although proction did increase, most of what was made was unusable due ot the terrible quality of the rushed items also procution of steel an crude oil stagnated and wasn’t increasing rapidly (crude oil from 29 million in 1937 to 31 millio in 1940). Overcoming – it still formed the back bone of the plan in fulfilling stalins aims as the heavy industry carrie on increasing as wellas making rusia capable of fiighing in WW2 as they had lots of production happening. Conclusion - Although many of the goals set by the plan were not fully met, there were several economic sectors that still saw large increases in their output. Areas like capital goods increased 158%, consumer goods increased by 87%, and total industrial output increased by 118%. However, unrealistic quotas set for industrialization that, in reality, would not be met for decades to come. The great push for industrialization caused quotas to consistently be looked at and adjusted.

Quotas expecting to reach 235.9 percent output and labour to increase by 110 percent were unrealistic in the time frame they allotted for.

Stalin’s economic policies were a success to a significant extent under the third five-year plan as due to this Russia was able to be prepared for World War Two. This is because due to the rapid increase in production which enabled Russia to have the adequate resources required to win a war as it did increase the innovations for soviet military technology. For example, in1939, Gosplan ordered the construction of nine aircraft factories which played an important the war for Russia. This fulfilled Stalin’s economical aims as it meant that Russia’s communist economy was out performing the leading capitalist nations. Furthermore, coal production was still increasing over the years, 128 million tonnes in 1937 to 166 million tonnes in 1940, helping the Russia economy as it meant that they were rich in resources that other countries, as well as themselves, would need in order to further industrialise. However, the production of crude oil stagnated and stopped increasing rapidly, 29 million in 1937 to only 31 million in 1940. Although this was still an increase, the rate at which production was happening started to decline. This suggests that Stalin’s economic policies were not successful to such a significant extent as his aim of industrialising rapidly started to decline due to the demand of the war. This argument can be overcome as it still formed the backbone of the plan in fulfilling Stalin’s aims as heavy industry did increase but not at a fast rate. Also, the fact that Russia was even able to fight in the war shows the success of Stalin’s economic policies as he did rapidly industrialise Russia’s economy in a short period of time. Therefore, illustrating that Stalin’s economic policies were a success as overall he did improve Russia’s standing in the international economy....