Policy changes in the USSR
Account for the changes in the policies of Communist Party rule in Russia/Soviet union in the period from 1917 to 1934.The reasons for the change in Party policy are the result of unrest in the proletariat class, foreign security concerns, the desire to use terror as a form of control, and the desire for total power by the Soviet leaders. The leadership position may have changed from Lenin to Stalin, however the underlying desire for total control and power remains constant. It is evident to record a change in the Communist rule from the initial Communist ideals of 1917, through the years of War communism, then to its transition in 1924 to the New Economic Policy (NEP), to 1928 with the introduction of Industrialisation, Modernisation and Collectivisation. Other changes to policy have been recorded in the areas of foreign relations and internal purges. All of these significant changes to party policy have been a direct result of the need to strengthen the economy, hold total support and achieve military control, or more simply, to achieve the aim of totalitarianism. Government soviet policy throughout the period of war communism had been predicated on the use of force and terror to gain political control and economic stabi
As a result Lenin introduced the NEP which differed from the policy of War communism in that requisitioning was abolished, Kulaks were permitted to sell their surplus for a profit, and a cash economy was reintroduced. The significance of the introduction of central planning was that the Stalin, the relatively new leader of the country, had a need to secure power for himself. The attainment and securing of power was equally as critical to Stalin's change in policy as Lenin's move from War communism to the NEP. The strongest angle by which he could do this was to enforce a new economic policy which boasted a return to communist principles, enforcing that he was heading towards the ideals of the party. All policy alterations support the need for this consolidation of totalitarian rule through their relation to conformity and control. It allowed the government to impose stricter control over the workers through the centralization of all national resources under government control. The economic reform provided Stalin with a means by which he could enforce order amongst the people and subject them to purges and show trials when they fail to achieve the unrealistic goals. These steps essentially returned the country back to many of its capitalistic policies. Lenin's power base diminished from the increasing famine, the collapse of the economy and frequent mutinies, all which were directly attributable to war communism and the demoralizing effect it had on the people. Daniels explains that, "During the time of the NEP. " And so the introduction of new economic policies was a result of Stalin's need to consolidate power and construct a society of uniformity and obedience out of an unhappy, dissatisfied proletariat base. It was the sole aim of the Communist party to retain control and power over its people at all costs, and for the time being the reintroduction of the very system previously opposed proved to be the greatest means to achieve this. Policy alteration was initiated when Lenin or Stalin felt their control of the Russian people was diminishing or endangered, and as a result sought to impose tough controls on the lives of each person under the banner of Communism.
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