Russia and Soviet Union 1917-1941 Essay

This essay delves into the New Economic Policy (NEP) of Soviet Russia, introduced by Vladimir Lenin in 1921, and its significance in the consolidation of Bolshevik power between 1917 and 1941. It explores the features of the NEP, including its temporary return to capitalist policies, and examines factors such as war communism, the Red Terror, the Civil War, initial reforms, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and Lenin's leadership that contributed to the Bolsheviks' rise. The essay further analyzes how the NEP helped the Bolshevik government overcome economic and social challenges, reduce famine, and establish a truce with the peasantry, ultimately leading to the strengthening of their power. The conclusion emphasizes the NEP's role as a driving force behind the Bolsheviks' growth and its positive impact on the living standards and financial enhancement of Russia.

RUSSIA AND THE SOVIET UNION 1917-1941
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Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Features of NEP (New Economic Policy) 1921-1928...............................................................3
Factors that contribute in the contribution of the consolidation of power of the Bolsheviks....4
Significance of NEP to the Bolshevik consolidation of power in the period 1917-1924..........5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
Reference List............................................................................................................................7
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Introduction
The World War 1 was a historical movement that changed the face of the economic world to
a severe extent. This war brought the advent of the introduction of the New Economic Policy
(NEP) into the economic market, which revolutionised the future of the nation. Abramovitch
(2017) said that Vladimir Lenin incepted the NEP of Soviet Russia in the year 1921 and it
brought about an end to the previously followed policy of extreme centralization and
doctrinaire socialism. The creator of the New Economic Policy V. Lenin stated this, as the
progression towards state capitalism was the main purpose for this creation was to attract
foreign capital. This policy was imperative to control the red terror of the rebellions and to
motivate the peasants and farmers significantly. In addition to that, it was also essential for
the foster the economy of the country which was almost destroyed after the Russian Cold
war. In this assignment, the various factors that influenced the birth of the new economic
policy will be discussed in detail. In addition to that, the significance of the NEP in
establishing a hold or rather a consolidation of the power of the Bolsheviks was also
elaborated vividly.
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Features of NEP (New Economic Policy) 1921-1928
NEP determines the new economic policy, which brought a temporary return to the policies
regarding capitalist in the year of 1921. This policy has contributed greatly to improving the
condition of Bolsheviks. Lenin and Chretien (2015) said that the major aims of NEP were
work on agricultural collapse, which was affecting the production. This policy was an
initiative for the peasants and farmer to helps them in their production. It had contributed to
regaining the popularity of Bolsheviks, which was degrading at that time. The features of
NEP were to make socialism less powerful and empower capitalism for temporary measures.
According to this policy, food requisition was stopped and added a lower tax for the same.
This policy encouraged private traders in order to open new shops. The rationing system
was ended for this concerned policy. Cash economy was returned in its previous measures.
Another feature of this economic policy was converted nationalism to capitalism so that small
business could be set up where people could hire employment for their own purpose. Lenin
wanted to electrify the network of the Russian power stations so that each home and industry
could get the impact of modernisation. The main feature of this new economic policy was
empowered the farmer and peasants to sell their products in the open market and to earn
maximum profit for themselves.
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Factors that contribute in the contribution of the consolidation of power of
the Bolsheviks
There were certain factors along with the NEP that has helped to consolidate power of the
Bolsheviks along with the New Economic Policy. Some of them might be less while others
might be grave but all of them have some impact of the strengthening of the power of the
Bolsheviks.
 War communism (1981-1921)
The major aims of war communism were to provide food and war equipment to red arm in
order to continue Civil War. With war communism, private trading was strictly prohibited.
In the grain trading war, communism developed a government monopoly. It had contributed
New Economic Policy as war communism developed chaos in rationing system. It also
increased the death rate by a quadruple amount. In a trading market, illegal trading was
increased. Although it angered the peasants and led to the occurrence of chaos and mass
starvation, it led to the winning in the Civil War. This indirectly led to the consolidation of
the Bolsheviks.
 Red Terror
Red terror was a process where mass was killed by the Bolsheviks. Krausmann et al. (2016)
pointed that Bolsheviks in the beginning of Civil War started oppressing people. According
to Soviet Historiography, the official announcement of Red Terror was made in September in
the year of 191. This enabled the red army to kill the mass number of people over 13000.
This red terror was visible on the peasants, which was considered as the main instrument for
deferential behaviour.
 Civil War
Civil War was fought in the year 1917 -1922 between the red army and white army. This war
was actually between socialist and capitalist. Civil War made the formation of an organised
army and the Trotsky. This helped in the formidability of power of the Bolsheviks who used
coercive methods to initiate rule over the people.
 Initial reforms
Grant (2014) observed that the initial reforms could be described as a plethora of legislations
that the Bolsheviks brought into the judiciary of the Soviet Russia. Although they no idea
regarding any formation of the government, they managed to formulate 193 laws for the
usefulness of the people. The implementation of these laws brought about serenity and solace
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among the soldiers and workers. This led to the signing of the treaty of the Brest-Litovsk,
which ultimately led to the consolidation of the Bolsheviks.
 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The treaty of Brest-Litovsk was one of the paramount features that led to the development of
the power of the Bolsheviks. The treaty was a peace memorandum, which was signed by the
Soviet Russia and the central powers (comprising Germany, Ottoman Empire and others).
This indicated the declination of participation from World War 1 by the Soviet Russia. This
treaty brought about an influx of land, population and economy into the nation, which led to
the consolidation of power of the Bolsheviks.
 Lenin’s Leadership
As in Civil War, red army required a massive amount of food and arms supply Lenin stated a
Communist Economy. Corney et al. (2015) pointed that according to this communist
economy, the farmers have to supply foods to red army. This led to situation famine among
farmers for which more than 5 million people died. In this situation, Lenin’s leadership was
motivational for them and this instigated them to follow behind his footsteps. He being the
leader of the Bolsheviks, this was a big step for them to increase their power.
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Significance of NEP to the Bolshevik consolidation of power in the period
1917-1924
The NEP helped the Bolshevik government to survive the economic and social problems of
1921. It helped them to eradicate famine, reduce the occurrence of revolts. It also enforced a
truce with the peasantry, which was opposite to the ideology of war communism. This
brought serenity among the peasants and farmers of the Soviet Russia. It was able to fulfil
many supply shortages that occurred during the World War 1. Chamberlin (2014) opined that
NEP ensured the up-liftman in Russian Economy by increasing the production of agriculture
and industrial productions. This led to the improvement of the steel industry and clothing
industry in Russia, as Bolsheviks aimed to acquire growth of the farmers and peasant, New
Economic Policy consolidates the same. For NEP the demand in the market increased
whereas the supply of the demand could not match the demand for the lack infrastructure.
New Economic policy developed new traders in the market associated with small trading.
Food requisition was stopped according to NEP. New Economic Policy took the initiatives
for the development of foreign trades in order to enhance Russian economy. In this situation,
the industrial growth was not being able coping up with agricultural growth. Thus, the
government of Russia increased the funds to invest in industrial growth. Another impact of
New Economic Policy was a high number of crime instances among people. This economic
policy mainly developed the betterment of working class people. The aims of Bolsheviks
was to empower the working class people, NEP ensured this objective. With the help of NEP,
a farmer could freely trade their products and independently could trade in the market. After
the huge shortage of food in Russia for World War I this policy developed an opportunity for
the working class people to relive their lives. However, to improve industrial growth
government involved themselves in it by providing less opportunity to the farmers, the
government had to step back as this might develop another instance of famine. Thus, it can be
said that the primary aim of Bolsheviks to empower working class people was achieved
through the formation New Economic Policy. This also led consolidation Bolshevik power in
Russia.
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Conclusion
Hitherto, it is seen that the New Economic Policy has been the wheel or rather the driving
force behind the growth of the power of the power of the Bolsheviks. The impact of the birth
of the NEP is opulent as discussed in the above-mentioned assignment. It raised the living
standards of the people significantly in the nation Russia and created admirable support for
the upliftment of the power of the Bolsheviks. It can also be seen that the NEP is responsible
for the enrichment of the financial enhancement of the country. In addition to that, it was
brought an end to the famine that has haunted the people of Russia for a very long time. It can
be concluded by saying that the incarnation of the NEP has been a boon to the people of
Russia and with its inception; the power of the Bolsheviks had reached their zenith.
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Reference List
Abramovitch, R.R., (2017). The Soviet Revolution: 1917-1938. Abingdon: Routledge.
Chamberlin, W.H., (2014). The Russian Revolution, Volume I: 1917-1918: From the
Overthrow of the Tsar to the Assumption of Power by the Bolsheviks (Vol. 1). Princeton
University Press.
Corney, F.C., Figes, O., Kolonitskii, B., Halfin, I., Healey, D., Holquist, P., Pipes, R.,
Rabinowitch, A., Raleigh, D.J., Stites, R. and Rubin, B., (2015). Revolution, Civil
War. Abingdon: Routledge
Grant, S., (2014). Bolsheviks, revolution and physical culture. The International Journal of
the History of Sport, 31(7), pp.724-734.
Krausmann, F., Gaugl, B., West, J. and Schandl, H. (2016). The metabolic transition of a
planned economy: Material flows in the USSR and the Russian Federation 1900 to
2010. Ecological Economics, 124, pp.76-85.
Lenin, V.I. and Chretien, T., (2015). State and revolution. Chicago: Haymarket Books.
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