“Stalin Transformed Russia from a Backward Country Into a Great World Power… but the Cost Was Certainly Exorbitant."Discuss.
“Stalin transformed Russia from a backward country into a great world power… but the cost was certainly exorbitant” (The Guardian newspaper, 6 March 1933) Discuss.
After becoming leader of Russia, a country that by his accounts, ‘was 50 to 100 years behind advanced countries’ Joseph Stalin sought to enhance Russia quickly, before ‘being crushed by his opponents’ (Stalin, 1931) To make up the vast difference between the agrarian country he had, and the superpower he dreamt about, Stalin determined to use every method available to him, often extending to exorbitant levels. He needed to modernize the agricultural system, rapidly increase Russia’s industry and change the soviet people’s social and political ways of life. Whilst eventually succeeding in creating a modern superpower, the cost was too high, and Stalin’s brutal legacy created a indelible stain on the rise of Soviet Russia.
Stalin modernized Russia’s agricultural status, employing methods of collectivisaion but this came at the price of dekulakisation and famine - a huge cost. Firstly, Stalin realized that despite the fact there were 25 million farms in Soviet Russia, they were ‘primitive and undeveloped.’(Stalin, 1928) He saw the need to use the masses to not only feed themselves, but the rest of his growing nation, and to this end decided in 1928 to collectivize the farms of Russia, bringing many positive impacts. In 1930, already 50% of the country’s farms had been collectivized, and at this time, ‘even enemies are forced to admit that the successes are substantial.’ (Stalin) The collectives were successful on paper, with grain collections rising from just under 11 million tons in 1928/29 to over 31 million tons in 1937/38. This positive was clear, but it came at a massive price, which overshadowed the brilliant work of the collectives. Standing in the way of complete compliance for the collectivization program were the kulaks. As collectivization meant the loss of their wealth, they revolted,
After becoming leader of Russia, a country that by his accounts, ‘was 50 to 100 years behind advanced countries’ Joseph Stalin sought to enhance Russia quickly, before ‘being crushed by his opponents’ (Stalin, 1931) To make up the vast difference between the agrarian country he had, and the superpower he dreamt about, Stalin determined to use every method available to him, often extending to exorbitant levels. He needed to modernize the agricultural system, rapidly increase Russia’s industry and change the soviet people’s social and political ways of life. Whilst eventually succeeding in creating a modern superpower, the cost was too high, and Stalin’s brutal legacy created a indelible stain on the rise of Soviet Russia.
Stalin modernized Russia’s agricultural status, employing methods of collectivisaion but this came at the price of dekulakisation and famine - a huge cost. Firstly, Stalin realized that despite the fact there were 25 million farms in Soviet Russia, they were ‘primitive and undeveloped.’(Stalin, 1928) He saw the need to use the masses to not only feed themselves, but the rest of his growing nation, and to this end decided in 1928 to collectivize the farms of Russia, bringing many positive impacts. In 1930, already 50% of the country’s farms had been collectivized, and at this time, ‘even enemies are forced to admit that the successes are substantial.’ (Stalin) The collectives were successful on paper, with grain collections rising from just under 11 million tons in 1928/29 to over 31 million tons in 1937/38. This positive was clear, but it came at a massive price, which overshadowed the brilliant work of the collectives. Standing in the way of complete compliance for the collectivization program were the kulaks. As collectivization meant the loss of their wealth, they revolted,