Skip to main content

New Economic Policy (NEP)


Reasons for the NEP

  • The Krondstadt Rebellion: they had been the Bolsheviks' most feverent supporters and Lenin had to send Trotsky to put down the rebellion. However, he was worried that if they rebelled, the rest of the country might too.
  • Frequent strikes in cities
  • People in bread lines getting quite angry
  • Factional criticism within communist party
  • Frequent peasant revolts

Effects of the NEP

  • There was a fixed tax on produce, so peasants could now sell or retain the surplus as they wished. This meant they now had more motivation to produce, and agricultural production increased.
  • Agricultural town markets were allowed to re-open, so people got more money and higher wages
  • Some peasants became quite rich as a result of the new policy, so the class of Kulaks re-emerged. They had previously been demonized in Bolshevik propaganda, and this led to some opposition within the party.
  • Some became rich, while others didn't, so there was tension between classes.
  • Russia's production remained very low in 1921, during the Great Famine, but jumped up again in 1922 as a result of the NEP.
  • In november, 1921, they introduced currency reforms that revived the Rouble and reduced the effects of inflation



  • Became difficult to attract workers back to cities
  • Did not have an immediate effect on Russia's economy (i.e. it didn't save it immediately)
  • Industrial recovery was much slower than agricultural recovery

Opposition to the new policy

  • Many Communist hard-liners thought it was a step backwards because it re-introduced capitalist features and ideas
  • Many saw it as a confirmation that earlier policies had failed and left the party
  • Viewed as a retreat away from Socialism

"The terms in which Lenin defined the relationship between the old economic policy (war communism) and the new (NEP) were of offensive and retreat, construction and pause, leaving no room for a positive acceptance of the NEP in Bolshevik minds. The NEP was never conceived as a path to socialism but as a detour, a temporary obstacle to overcome. The Bolshevik Party desperately needed a role to play; it needed reaffirmation that it was leading Russia and not simply waiting for the conditions to arise when the socialist offensive could resume."
- Vladimir Brovkin, Historian


Death of Lenin

  • January 21st, 1924
  • Lenin's body was embalmed and Petrograd was temporarily re-named 'Leningrad'.
  • His embalmed body was put on display
  • Contrary to his instructions, there were various memorials built, including the construction in the Red Square
  • He wrote a 'political testament' before he died. This offered quite harsh opinions on individuals, especially Stalin.
  • Because it was not only harsh on him, but on other Bolshevik individuals, Stalin got enough support to make sure that the testament only reached a select few. This would allow him to take charge of the party later.
  • As a result, his testament did not have the effect he desired - he wanted Stalin to be removed as secretary-general.
  • Glorified against his will


"Stalin is too crude and this defect, although quite tolerable in our midst and in dealing among us Communists, becomes intolerable in a Secretary-General. That is why I suggest that the comrades thing about a way of removing Stalin from that post and appointing another man in his stead who in all other respects differs from Comrade Stalin in having only one advantage, namely, that of being more tolerant, more loyal, more polite and more considerate to the comrades.  This circumstance may appear negligible in detail.. but it is a detail which can assume decisive importance."
- From a letter written by Lenin


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Impact of WW1 on Russia

Russian defeats on the Eastern Front 1914 - 1916 Morale plummeted further with the deafeats at Tannenberg and Masurian lakes. By 1914, 1 million had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner. This number rose to 8 million in 1917. Soldiers were told to take weapons from the dead, which resulted in even more deaths because so many were ploughed down by Germany's armies, which were better equipped. Very poor leadership led to more defeats Soldiers lacked weapons and boots, so many were exposed to the effects of the cold and blamed this on careless, unfeeling officers. Economic, social and political effects of the war on Russia. Economic Shortages meant prices rose quickly Long bread queues and starvation Shortage in industrial materials meant that factories had to close This left many people unemployed Social Tsar at the war front (1915) meant that the losses were blamed on him per
Post a Comment
Read more

Problems facing Nicholas II

Weaknesses of Nicholas II as Tsar. Nicholas II was a great family man, but not that great of a ruler. He lacked the drive and imagination of his predecessors. Dismissed able ministers Encouraged unhealthy rivlary within his own cabinet Insisted on seeing ministers exclusively one-on-one (lack of communication) Wasn't comfortable outside military situations Appointed family members and friends as ministers (corrupt) Easily influenced, esp. by Rasputin Avoided important decisions Preferred a quiet, family life. Even he admitted he knew "nothing of the business of ruling" Thought he had a god-given right to be an autocrat, and refused any requests for reform. Blind to the negative effects of his policies Witte and industrial growth. Wanted to give new strength to autocracy through reform Encouraged foreign investment in industry to bring in capital Wanted ind
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dumas and Stolypin

The attitude of Nicholas to the first four dumas. He refused to work with the Dumas because the people wanted change and this was deemed 'too radical' He kept changing who was in the Duma until they were moderate enough or shared enough of his views that it would be 'bearable'. He still had all the power, so he could dissolve the Duma whenever he wished The Duma had little or no power in proper affairs. They could not pass laws, appoint ministers or control important areas of finance such as military spending. The Duma elections clearly favoured the nobles, as they had 1 rep per 2000 people but the workers had 1 rep per 20,000 people . First duma: 1906 Second duma: 1907 Third duma: ? Fourth duma: 1912 The fourth Duma was by far the most successful. The Tsar even began to tentatively work with it, but the Dumas overall, had achieved little. The actions of the fourth Duma quickly
Post a Comment
Read more