Theme 2: Industrial and agricultural change, 1917–85
Evidence Lenin Stalin Khrushchev Brezhnev
Policies Lenin believed that a socialist economy Great Turn/Revolution from above / Rapid 7 Year plans Koysgin reforms
would be very efficient. Industrialization Virgin Lands Mature Socialism
Believed that it required modern Collectivization Corn Campaign 5 year plans
technology, expert management and a well- Five Year Plans Consumer Goods
educated and highly disciplined workforce. REFORM STAGNATION
Workers would be free from the capitalists.
Workers would be better paid and treated
better.
Therefore would no longer resent the work
that they did.
Situation WWI economy 50-100 years behind Poor infrastructure & lack of consumer goods Disappointment and
inherited Economy backwards and Unsophisticated Scissor Crisis commitment to arms
Russia began to industrialise. and space races
Economy grew significantly from 1890-1914
Economy still far behind the more
developed nations.
Industrial Electricity Production Seven Year Plan: Light industry: January 1959 Restoration
Success Coal 1927 -1940 in million tonnes Production of chemical and consumer goods Khrushchev also
Steel 35.40-165.90 à Coal rose between 1959 – 1965 wanted an increase in
Increase from 1921 11.70 – 31.10 à Oil Increase not as significant as economic consumer goods
4.00-18.30 à Steel planners had anticipated. However, he was a lot
60% increase in the production of consumer less ambitious in
Productivity goods (still 5% less than Khrushchev’s goal) terms of quality and
Stakhanovite movement began during Synthetic fibers production increased by quantity of consumer
the second FYP in 1935 as a new stage of 241,000 tons, (200,000 less than the target) goods
socialist competition. The Stakhanovite
, movement took its name from Aleksei Fertilizer production increased by 19 million Military spending
Grigorievich Stakhanov, who had tonnes (3.5 million less than Khrushchev’s Brezhnev increased
mined 102 tons of coal in less than 6 hours targets) military spending
34% increase in Chemicals Military spending
51% increase in Electricity production increased from 11% to
13%, 1964-70
Post – WWII Nuclear parity
80% industrial output increase 1945-1950 achieved by 1970
3 – good years 1934-1936
4th 5YP (1945-50)
Led to v high levels of industrial growth
88% of investment went into heavy industry
Industrial output increased by 80% from
1945-50
Industrial Workforce Plans set targets for production, not quality. Seven Year Plan: Light industry: January 1959 11% to 13% by 1970
failure 3 million – 1.2 million: industrial work force Factory managers rewarded for producing February 1957 Sovnarkhoz reforms GDP spent on the
decline btw 1917-1922 large quantities, regardless of what was decentralized power from Gosplan to 105 military
From 100-31: Gross output of all industry actually produced. Sovnarkhoz (destroyed central co-ordination
1913-1920 of the plan and therefore ruined economic Stockpiles
Lenin’s vision of socialism dedicated no time Post -WWII growth)
for leisure. By 1940: 1/3 of govt. spending = arms From 1958-1964, Khrushchev introduced
No sympathy for laziness. production increased centralisation to solve the issues
Evidence Lenin Stalin Khrushchev Brezhnev
Policies Lenin believed that a socialist economy Great Turn/Revolution from above / Rapid 7 Year plans Koysgin reforms
would be very efficient. Industrialization Virgin Lands Mature Socialism
Believed that it required modern Collectivization Corn Campaign 5 year plans
technology, expert management and a well- Five Year Plans Consumer Goods
educated and highly disciplined workforce. REFORM STAGNATION
Workers would be free from the capitalists.
Workers would be better paid and treated
better.
Therefore would no longer resent the work
that they did.
Situation WWI economy 50-100 years behind Poor infrastructure & lack of consumer goods Disappointment and
inherited Economy backwards and Unsophisticated Scissor Crisis commitment to arms
Russia began to industrialise. and space races
Economy grew significantly from 1890-1914
Economy still far behind the more
developed nations.
Industrial Electricity Production Seven Year Plan: Light industry: January 1959 Restoration
Success Coal 1927 -1940 in million tonnes Production of chemical and consumer goods Khrushchev also
Steel 35.40-165.90 à Coal rose between 1959 – 1965 wanted an increase in
Increase from 1921 11.70 – 31.10 à Oil Increase not as significant as economic consumer goods
4.00-18.30 à Steel planners had anticipated. However, he was a lot
60% increase in the production of consumer less ambitious in
Productivity goods (still 5% less than Khrushchev’s goal) terms of quality and
Stakhanovite movement began during Synthetic fibers production increased by quantity of consumer
the second FYP in 1935 as a new stage of 241,000 tons, (200,000 less than the target) goods
socialist competition. The Stakhanovite
, movement took its name from Aleksei Fertilizer production increased by 19 million Military spending
Grigorievich Stakhanov, who had tonnes (3.5 million less than Khrushchev’s Brezhnev increased
mined 102 tons of coal in less than 6 hours targets) military spending
34% increase in Chemicals Military spending
51% increase in Electricity production increased from 11% to
13%, 1964-70
Post – WWII Nuclear parity
80% industrial output increase 1945-1950 achieved by 1970
3 – good years 1934-1936
4th 5YP (1945-50)
Led to v high levels of industrial growth
88% of investment went into heavy industry
Industrial output increased by 80% from
1945-50
Industrial Workforce Plans set targets for production, not quality. Seven Year Plan: Light industry: January 1959 11% to 13% by 1970
failure 3 million – 1.2 million: industrial work force Factory managers rewarded for producing February 1957 Sovnarkhoz reforms GDP spent on the
decline btw 1917-1922 large quantities, regardless of what was decentralized power from Gosplan to 105 military
From 100-31: Gross output of all industry actually produced. Sovnarkhoz (destroyed central co-ordination
1913-1920 of the plan and therefore ruined economic Stockpiles
Lenin’s vision of socialism dedicated no time Post -WWII growth)
for leisure. By 1940: 1/3 of govt. spending = arms From 1958-1964, Khrushchev introduced
No sympathy for laziness. production increased centralisation to solve the issues
