Option 1C: Russia, 1917–91: From Lenin to Yeltsin
Overview
This option comprises a study in breadth in which students will learn about the key political, social and
economic features of Communist rule in Russia during the 20th century, an era that saw its authority
and influence rise to the status of a superpower, only to diminish and decline later in the century.
The focus of study is on developments and changes over a broad timescale, and so the content is
presented as themes spanning a significant duration: 1917–91.
This option also contains a study using two sources that relate to nominated areas of the specification
content shown in bold italics.
This option is forbidden in combination with Unit 1 option 1B: Russia in Revolution, 1881–1917.
What students need to learn:
1 Communist government in the USSR, 1917–91
• Establishing Communist Party control 1917–24: the creation of a one-party state and the party
congress of 1921; the nature of government under Lenin; the growing centralisation of power.
• Stalin in power 1928–53: the elimination of opponents in government and party; the purges of the
1930s; Stalin’s power over party and state.
• Reform, stability, stagnation and collapse 1953–91: Khrushchev’s attempts to reform government,
including deStalinisation; government under Brezhnev 1964–82; growing political stagnation; the impact
of Gorbachev and the policies of perestroika and glasnost; the significance of Yeltsin’s election in June
1991 and the failed coup of August.
2 Industrial and agricultural change, 1917–91
• Towards a command economy 1917–28: the nationalisation of industry; War Communism and the
New Economic Policy; state control of industry and agriculture.
• Industry and agriculture in the Stalin era: the Five-Year Plans and industrial change 1928–41; preparing
for war; agricultural collectivisation and its impact, including the destruction of the ‘kulaks’; recovery
from war after 1945.
• Changing priorities for industry and agriculture 1953–91; the promotion of light industry, chemicals
and consumer goods; investment in agriculture and the Virgin Lands Scheme; the attempts at reform
1964-91; the economy under Brezhnev; the impact of Gorbachev’s attempts at economic reform 1985–
91.
Overview
This option comprises a study in breadth in which students will learn about the key political, social and
economic features of Communist rule in Russia during the 20th century, an era that saw its authority
and influence rise to the status of a superpower, only to diminish and decline later in the century.
The focus of study is on developments and changes over a broad timescale, and so the content is
presented as themes spanning a significant duration: 1917–91.
This option also contains a study using two sources that relate to nominated areas of the specification
content shown in bold italics.
This option is forbidden in combination with Unit 1 option 1B: Russia in Revolution, 1881–1917.
What students need to learn:
1 Communist government in the USSR, 1917–91
• Establishing Communist Party control 1917–24: the creation of a one-party state and the party
congress of 1921; the nature of government under Lenin; the growing centralisation of power.
• Stalin in power 1928–53: the elimination of opponents in government and party; the purges of the
1930s; Stalin’s power over party and state.
• Reform, stability, stagnation and collapse 1953–91: Khrushchev’s attempts to reform government,
including deStalinisation; government under Brezhnev 1964–82; growing political stagnation; the impact
of Gorbachev and the policies of perestroika and glasnost; the significance of Yeltsin’s election in June
1991 and the failed coup of August.
2 Industrial and agricultural change, 1917–91
• Towards a command economy 1917–28: the nationalisation of industry; War Communism and the
New Economic Policy; state control of industry and agriculture.
• Industry and agriculture in the Stalin era: the Five-Year Plans and industrial change 1928–41; preparing
for war; agricultural collectivisation and its impact, including the destruction of the ‘kulaks’; recovery
from war after 1945.
• Changing priorities for industry and agriculture 1953–91; the promotion of light industry, chemicals
and consumer goods; investment in agriculture and the Virgin Lands Scheme; the attempts at reform
1964-91; the economy under Brezhnev; the impact of Gorbachev’s attempts at economic reform 1985–
91.
