Five Year Plans
History: AQA GCSE Russia, 1894-1945, topic 3.2.2
Five Year Plans
After the apparent failure of the NEP and its reliance on capitalist principles, Stalin’s economic plan switched to Five Year Plans. This involved targets that aimed to generate very fast industrial growth.
Agricultural and economic targets
- In farming, collectivisation was supposed to improve agricultural output. But it actually led to starvation for millions of Russians. It was introduced because in theory:
- Economically, selling excess grain abroad could be used for industrialisation. Russia could then modernise their farming methods.
- Collectivisation would produce more grain to feed the industrial workers.
Political and ideological targets
- Politically, Stalin wanted more control of the countryside.
- Ideologically, Stalin did not like the idea of capitalism which he believed was supported by the NEP.
- Industrial workers felt that peasants were benefiting from the revolution in a way that they were not.
- Stalin believed in Marxist principles.
Marxist principles
- Karl Marx said that in a developed human society, countries would be industrialised and factories made efficient and productive.
- There would be a move towards urbanisation, and fewer people would be needed to work the land.
- Private property would be abolished and wealth would be redistributed to the poor.
- Collectivisation was part of this process.
Problems with the NEP
- Under the NEP, more successful farmers could buy land from poorer ones, and employ other people. This was essentially a form of capitalism. This made it unpopular with Politburo members like Stalin.
- Ideologically, Stalin needed to get rid of the kulaks (wealthy peasants) who had benefited from the NEP.
- Moreover, his rival Bukharin supported the NEP, which gave Stalin even greater motivation to end the policy.
Test yourself on Five Year Plans
How long were Stalin's plans?
Which of the following about agricultural changes under Stalin are correct?
What group did Stalin want to get rid of?