Full Employment Benefits

War Communism and the NEP

The USSR's economic policy was largely shaped by political conditions. During the civil war, Lenin implemented war communism. This was very strict. The New Economic Plan (NEP), which replaced war communism, was more liberal.

Communist aims

Lenin and Stalin wanted all in society who could work to do so.

War communism

Under war communism, everyone aged 16-50 had to fight in the army or work.
In the early years, everyone received a work card in return for their work and this gave them access to benefits.
Rationing was imposed for food and fuel.
This was regulated through Prodrasped (Section of General Distribution).

Impact of war communism

War communism failed to meet workers’ needs because the rations were too small.
This led to many workers leaving their factories in search of food.
One quarter of people left the cities.

The NEP (New Economic Plan)

The NEP, with its more liberal economic policies, led to higher unemployment.
1924: 18% of the urban workforce was unemployed.

Historical assessment

Orlando Figes, ‘A People’s Tragedy’:
- ‘Under the NEP, some of the trappings of the modern world began to trickle down to the villages. Electric power came. Even Andreevskoe [a village outside Moscow] had its first electric cables in 1927. [...] Lenin extolled the new technology as a panacea (solution) for Russia’s backwardness. “Communism equals Soviet power plus the electrification of the entire country”, his famous slogan went.’

Employment Under Stalin

Stalin pursued Five Year Plans to develop the USSR's economy and focus it on heavy industry. This demanded more workers.

Compulsory labour

Stalin introduced compulsory work as a way to get more people back into the labour force.
Five Year Plans created enough jobs for full employment among urban men and more jobs for females.

Working conditions

Conditions in industrial jobs were often incredibly dangerous.

Specialist jobs

During the 1920s and 1930s, the country was able to increase the number of specialist jobs.
This included more midwives and engineers.
From 1926 to 1939, the number of specialists rose from half a million to 12 million.
More and more jobs were created outside agriculture.
By 1939, 33% of people worked outside agriculture.
After 1931, the government turned away from a system of egalitarian pay and a stricter hierarchy was introduced.

Historical assessment

Stephen Kotkin (1999): 'Soviet workers were not passive objects of the state’s design[...].' We should not assume that Soviet workers were brainwashed into working or enjoying their work.
For many people, especially those who moved to large cities from small villages, the security, and rewards of being a Soviet worker were genuinely appealing and satisfying. Being a soviet worker gave people an identity.

1Communist Government in the USSR, 1917-85

1.1Establishing Communist Party Control, 1917-24

1.1.1The Creation of a One-Party State

1.1.2Government under Lenin

1.1.3Centralisation of Power

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Establishing Control

1.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Establishing Control

1.2Stalin in Power, 1928-53

1.2.1The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.2The Purges of the 1930s

1.2.3End of Topic Test - The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.4Stalin's Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.5Stalin's Power During & After the Communist Party

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Stalin in Power

1.3Government, 1953-85

1.3.1Changes in Leaders' Control of the State

1.3.2Khrushchev's Attempts to Reform Government

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Government 1953-85

1.3.4Stability & Stagnation, 1964-85

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Stability & Stagnation

1.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Government 1953 - 85

2Industrial & Agricultural Changes

2.1Towards a Command Economy

2.1.1Nationalisation of Industry, Communism & the NEP

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Towards a Command Economy

2.2Industry & Agriculture in the Stalin Era

2.2.1Five Year Plans & Industrial Change

2.2.2Five Year Plans & Industrial Change 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Five Year Plans

2.2.4Agricultural Collectivisation & its Impact

2.2.5Recovery from War after 1945

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Collectivisation & Recovery

2.3Changes in Industry & Agriculture, 1953-85

2.3.1Light Industry, Chemicals & Consumer Goods

2.3.2Investment in Agriculture & Virgin Lands

2.3.3Attempts at Reform after 1964

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Industry & Agriculture

2.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Industry & Agriculture

3Control of the People, 1917-85

3.1Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.1State Control of Mass Media & Propaganda

3.1.2Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices

3.1.3Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.5Cults: Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev

3.1.6A-A*/ - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.2The Secret Police

3.2.1Attacks on Opponents of the Government

3.2.2The Roles of Yagoda, Yezhov & Beria

3.2.3Andropov & Late Opposition to Soviet Rule

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Secret Police

3.3The State & Cultural Change

3.3.1Proletkult, Avant-Garde & Socialist Realism

3.3.2Nonconformity from the 1950s

3.3.3End of Topic Test - State & Cultural Change

3.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Control of the People

4Social Developments, 1917-35

4.1Social Security

4.1.1Full Employment Benefits

4.1.2Housing & Social Benefits

4.1.3Khrushchev, Brezhnev & Stable Society

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Social Security

4.2Women & Family

4.2.1Changing Status of Different Groups

4.2.2Changing Attitudes to Family

4.2.3Changing Attitudes to Family 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Women & Family

4.3Education & Young People

4.3.1Growth of Primary, Secondary & Higher Education

4.3.2Reduction of Illiteracy

4.3.3State Control of the Curriculum

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Education & Young People

4.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Social Developments

5Historical Interpretations

5.1What Explains the Fall of the USSR, 1985-91?

5.1.1Economic Weakness

5.1.2Attempts at Economic Reform

5.1.3Failure To Reform The Communist Party & Soviet Gov

5.1.4Impact of Reforms

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Economic Reform

5.1.6Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.7Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence 2

5.1.8End of the USSR

5.1.9Gorbachev & Yeltsin's Responsibility

5.1.10End of Topic Test - Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Explaining the Fall of the USSR

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