Was the NEP a Success?
NEP; an economic policy of the Soviet Union from 1921 to 1928, representing a temporary
retreat from its previous policy of extreme centralisation and doctrinaire socialism. The
policy of War Communism, in effect, since 1918, had bought the national economy to the
point of breakdown
Successes
-It helped the Bolshevik government survive the problems of 1921 – there were no new
revolts, and the government was able to establish itself securely in power
-It made the peasants and small traders content; as they were rewarded with more
disposable income
-It stimulated production, and went back to 1913 levels
-It helped the country recover from the Civil War
-It produced more food, and helped against the terrible effects of the 1921 famine; by 1923,
there was enough food going into the towns
Failure
-It caused splits in the Communist Party; as it did not fulfil the true meaning of Communism
-It was a massive ideological retreat. During “War Communism”, Russia had been governed
by pure Communist ideals. The NEP allowed free enterprise and personal profit. It was
almost an admission that Communism did not work
-It fed the existing population, but did not provided the agricultural revolution that was
needed to support a huge growth in Russia’s population, industry and power
-It did not produce extra food for sale abroad; as Russia needed to generate income to
spend on investment and industry
-The NEP did not stimulate the investment and modernisation that was needed; the Russian
economy remained poor and backward compared with western countries
-The Kulaks grew rich; as they resisted
-Conditions for the proletariat (working class), did not improve
NEP; an economic policy of the Soviet Union from 1921 to 1928, representing a temporary
retreat from its previous policy of extreme centralisation and doctrinaire socialism. The
policy of War Communism, in effect, since 1918, had bought the national economy to the
point of breakdown
Successes
-It helped the Bolshevik government survive the problems of 1921 – there were no new
revolts, and the government was able to establish itself securely in power
-It made the peasants and small traders content; as they were rewarded with more
disposable income
-It stimulated production, and went back to 1913 levels
-It helped the country recover from the Civil War
-It produced more food, and helped against the terrible effects of the 1921 famine; by 1923,
there was enough food going into the towns
Failure
-It caused splits in the Communist Party; as it did not fulfil the true meaning of Communism
-It was a massive ideological retreat. During “War Communism”, Russia had been governed
by pure Communist ideals. The NEP allowed free enterprise and personal profit. It was
almost an admission that Communism did not work
-It fed the existing population, but did not provided the agricultural revolution that was
needed to support a huge growth in Russia’s population, industry and power
-It did not produce extra food for sale abroad; as Russia needed to generate income to
spend on investment and industry
-The NEP did not stimulate the investment and modernisation that was needed; the Russian
economy remained poor and backward compared with western countries
-The Kulaks grew rich; as they resisted
-Conditions for the proletariat (working class), did not improve
