Li Chun Ho (Alvin Li.) History Revision: New Economic Policy past paper questions.

(a) What was the New Economic Policy?[5] The New Economic Policy was devised by Lenin in 1921. Due to the rebellion of the sailors at the Kronstadt Naval Base, this has prompted him to believe changes need to be made in Russia. The policy aimed at giving national freedom to Russia and other nationalities in the USSR. For example, he allowed Ukrainians to use their own language in Ukraine, and to restore native languages in the Muslim regions of Asia. The policy also brought in experts from other countries to increase production. They were paid high wages and were given privileges. Lenin aimed to improve the industrial efficiency and effectiveness of the Russian economy. Furthermore, the policy also focused on enabling more private enterprise. The government would no longer size and raid grain forcefully from peasants, but would require them to give a fixed amount of grain to the government at fixed intervals throughout the year which served as tax. They were allowed to sell any surplus grains they had in the open market to gain a personal profit. Lenin also enabled people and traders to buy and sell goods in the market, which was originally made illegal during war communism. Although larger industries such as coal and steel were continued to be nationalized, Lenin allowed small businesses to open, such as cloths and shoes shop to make a profit, and to return former owners to resume selling again. This therefore created a new class of rich businessmen, known as the nepmen. November 2003 Question 11 (c) How far did the New Economic Policy prove that the Bolsheviks had failed to establish a Communist state in Russia? Explain your answer.[8] The new economic policy plan devised by Lenin had failed considerable in establishing a communist state in Russia to some extent. Lenins policy decided to allow peasants to sell the surplus grain they had after paying some to the government for tax as personal profit. This meant that hard-working peasants would be become richer; Kulaks. This violated the values of Communism, as all of the peasants were no longer equal. Furthermore, the policy allowed people and traders to buy and sell products on the open market, to open up small businesses and allow former owners to resume selling goods. This developed a new class of wealthy businessmen, known as the nepmen. As a result, this highlights the violations Lenin had done to the Communist values. Therefore, some fellow communists had expressed their discontent with the new economic policy as it had shown to allow certain individuals to benefit financially from this new policy which was established in 1921. In addition, by relaxing war communism and turning onto the open market initiative, it seems that the USSR was heading towards the capitalist road. This further showed the differences Lenin had done in comparison to the communist values. However, Lenin believed that they had not completely failed to establish a Communist state in Russia during the 1920s due to some limitations of the plan. Due to the fact many heavy industries, such as coal and steel remained under state control, he felt that not too much open privileges were given to Russians. This made him believe that the government continued to play a firm role in providing a Communist government to the USSR. Furthermore, Lenin had made the NEP so that the

Li Chun Ho (Alvin Li.) History Revision: New Economic Policy past paper questions. government continued to nationalize transportation services, so the infrastructure of Russia continued to be in the hands of the government. Therefore we can justify to some extent the New Economic Policy introduced by Lenin in 1921 had failed partially to create a full Communist government in Russia. This was because due to some of the allowances that the Russian people were permitted to have, i.e. own personal businesses to make a personal profit, allowing peasants to sell of the surplus of their grain after they gave some to the government for personal profit. In addition, the government failed to follow the standard Communist styles by permitting the various nationalities in Russia, and some overseas, to regain their national freedom, such as using their own native languages in everyday situations. (c) Lenins New Economic Policy (NEP) was a success. How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [8] To some extent, Lenins New Economic Policy was a success. It was seen as successful because the policy condemned the government from seizing grain from the peasants anymore. Instead, the peasants would give a minimum amount of grain to the government during certain intervals of the year, and allow them to sell of the surplus for personal profit. This has reduced the tensions between the government and the peasants and has allowed further understanding between the two parties. In addition, the policy stopped War Communism, as it had been placing a huge burden on the peasants. Therefore in the views of the peasants, the NEP was a success as it allowed USSR some breathing space. In addition, the NEP had opened up the foreign trade in 1921. The foreign powers had previously refused to trade with the Soviet Union. Due to the New Economic Policy, the West wanted to trade with Russia. This can be seen as a failure because the West wanted to destroy Communism by using capitalist ways, such as trading western goods for Russian industrial materials and signing the Anglo-Soviet trade agreement in 1921. Furthermore, the NEP was seen as a success because it had brought electricity to Russia. The electrification of the USSR was seen as a dramatic step towards a more modernized country, and Lenin believed that electrification enabled Russia to have a more powerful soviet power. However, the NEP can be seen as a failure to some extent as it had violated some of the Communist principles. Due to the policy allowing peasants to gain personal profit by selling surplus grain and also allowing people to form small businesses, thus becoming nepmen, this was seen as walking on the road of capitalism rather than communism. Therefore to some extent although the NEP was seen as an accomplishment to forward the economy of Russia and modernization, it had walked onto the capitalist way of life.