write an essay 2-3 pages on the following essay question
To what extent were Stalin's Five-Year Plans successful in transforming agriculture and industry in the Soviet Union between 1928 and 1941.
Use relevant evidence to support your line of argument
Answers
MoreThe Five-Year Plan (FYPs) were introduced by Joseph Stalin for Soviet industrialisation.The series of FYPs were meant to modernise Soviet industry and to match and overtake the other Western powers who by an industrial revolution had managed to modernise their industries and increase their industrial output. The FYPs were implemented to fulfil various purposes.Most of the USSR was very backward in the industrial sector.The USSR had the resources but did not have the infrastructure and industry to exploit it.According to Stalin and his belief of ‘socialism in one country’,the Soviet Union should “overtake and outstrip the capitalist countries”.He felt that in order to spread socialism all over the world,The USSR needed consolidation …show more content…
Thus complete potential was not achieved. Underproduction in many industries was also present due to the lack of resources such as wood.This led to hoarding of goods which lead to a lack of cooperation between many components of he industrial system.No one dared to complain explicitly about the government.Trade unions were powerless after 1917.Strikes and demands for better pay were prohibited.Any last bit of human rights disappeared under the FYPS.There was no provision for development of the standard of living of the proletariat in the FYPs.Any demands for an increase in the standard of living were deemed as selfish when a threat of a capitalist invasion on Soviet Russia was looming large.This led to the usual assignment of scapegoats.People accused of ‘sabotage’ were punished in show trials or sent to Siberian work camps.The plans failed to increase the standard of living of the workers.They had to live in five storey tenant blocks where families had to live with their in-laws.Many times four to five families shared a single lavatory and kitchen(usually only a gas ring