PAPER 1: SECTION B ESSAY QUESTION
QUESTION 3:
COMMUNISM IN RUSSIA: STALIN 1900-1940
Common essay questions
● Explain to what extent Stalin was able to convert Russia from a backwards
agricultural state to an advanced industrial state by 1938.
● Stalin economic policies were generally successful. However, the Russian
people paid a heavy price for its success.
Do you agree with this statement? Evaluate Stalin’s policies from 1929 to
1939 in the light of the statement.
● Explain to what extent Stalin succeeded in transforming Russia into a
superpower by 1939.
● Critically discuss whether the Five Year Plans were successful or not.
- must look at both sides of the argument - in the conclusion you must agree
or disagree with the statement and justify
Paragraph 1: introduction
Respond immediately to the question - take a stance FIRST THING IN THE
PARAGRAPH NO BACKGROUND! Take a stance - agree/disagree or to a great
extent/ to a lesser extent.
Why have you chosen this particular standpoint? Because —
Identify how you will prove your answer…. This essay aims to examine/ this
essay aims to explore
By 1938, Joseph Stalin, to a great extent, converted Russia from a backwards
agricultural state to one of the most advanced industrial states in the world. As
opposed to Lenin, who adapted Marxist ideas in order to recover the economy after
the conflicts of the revolution, Stalin was more rigid and was able to transform
Russia from an agrarian society to an industrial (and military) superpower. Stalin
abandoned the New Economic Policy (NEP) and made use of a series of Five Year
Plans which placed emphasis on the ideas of collectivisation and industrialisation.
Stalin had a highly centralised system of government and economic control. (His
“cult personality”). His use of terror and propaganda to control the nation which
further contributed towards Russia’s radical transformation. This essay aims to
explore how the points mentioned above changed Russia from a backwards
agricultural state to an industrial superpower.
Paragraph 2: collectivisation and industrialisation introduction
During Joseph Stalin’s rule over the Soviet Union he introduced a series of Five Year
Plans. Stalin completely abandoned Lenin’s New Economic Policy, which he
believed contradicted the ideas of communism. The Five Year Plans’ main focus was
turning the Soviet Union into an industrial superpower. Prior to the introduction of the
Five Year Plans, Russia was considered a backwards agricultural state that
desperately needed to be modernised. The Five Year Plans made use of
collectivisation and industrialisation in order to stimulate the rapid development of
Russia. This was the starting point of the drastic shift from Russia as an agricultural
state to a highly industrialised superpower.
Paragraph 3: collectivisation
In order to increase agricultural production, Stalin introduced a system of
collectivisation. Instead of peasants producing food for subsistence, food would now
be produced on a larger scale and would be organised and planned by the state.
Many small scale peasant farmers were merged into huge government controlled
collective farms. These farms made use of machinery and modern farming methods.
As production of food increased, food exports also increased. This newly generated
income was necessary in order to buy imported technologies for further industrial
development. It also meant that more peasants could leave the farms and work in
factories. Thus, Stalin’s introduction of collectivisation significantly improved and
modernised Russia’s agricultural sector which became the basis of Russia’s shift
from an agrarian society to becoming industrialised.
Paragraph 4: Reaction of peasants to collectivisation (CRITICALLY DISCUSS)
Many peasants fiercely resisted collectivization. Peasants would go as far as
burning their crops in an effort to not have to give up their land to the collective. This
was seen particularly amongst the kulaks (wealthier peasant farmers) who thrived
under the NEP. Stalin viewed them as a threat to and therefore decided to get rid of
them. Nearly ten million Kulaks were deported to the most remote regions of the
Soviet Union or they were shot. Between 1932 and 1933, millions of peasants died
from hunger. The famine was caused by their food being forcefully taken and given
to the state. Stalin used the famine to force the peasants to submit to government
control by refusing to give aid to areas which opposed government policies. Thus,
Stalin used fear and force to deal with those who resisted his policies, without any
opposition, Russia’s industrialisation process sped up rapidly.
Paragraph 5: industrialisation
Between 1928 and 1937, the first two Five Year Plans dramatically transformed the
economy into a modern industrial state. There was a rapid expansion of heavy
industries, such as coal and iron mining, production of steel electricity, oil and
machines.Over one hundred industrial towns were built with roads, railways, canals
and new oil wells. In order for a thriving industrial economy, skilled workers were
required, therefore, over one thousand schools were built. These schools offered
adult literacy classes which reduced illiteracy by 30% by 1939. As a result,
production increased dramatically and Russia had a larger skilled population, which
contributed towards the growth of a highly industrial state.
Paragraph 6: Effects on the population/ workers (CRITICALLY DISCUSS)
Despite the remarkable achievements of the first Five Year Plan, several flaws
emerged. There was a shortage of skills, and many projects used forced labour and
propaganda to maintain productivity. Workers often worked in dangerous conditions,
leading to high casualty rates. Food was rationed, and working hours were increased
to meet production quotas, resulting in poor-quality goods and a shortage of
consumer goods - mainly due to the focus on heavy industry, which generated the
most income. The rapid growth of industrial centres caused an acute housing
shortage. Thus, showing that rapid developments had adverse effects not only on
the Russian population but on the economy as a whole.
Paragraph 7: Second Five Year Plan
In 1933, the Second Five Year Plan aimed to correct the mistakes of the First Five
Year Plan. It focused on improving the quality of goods, producing more consumer
goods, and providing more housing for urban workers, thereby improving the urban
standard of living. The State provided jobs for almost everyone in Russia, avoiding
the high unemployment rates seen in capitalist countries at the time. People
benefited from the emphasis on education and health services. The government
promoted sport and fitness to improve health and provided entertainment like films
and theatre which served as a form of propaganda. Consequently, the standard of
living improved significantly, and Russia became a fully developed industrial state.
Paragraph 8: conclusion
Therefore, one can conclude that Stalin, to a great extent, transformed Russia from a
backwards agricultural state to an advanced industrial superpower.This was
achieved through the Five Year Plans, which focused on the collectivization of
agricultural resources and rapid industrial expansion. Despite severe criticism, Stalin
used force and fear to suppress opposition, in turn hastening the industrialisation
process. The First Five Year Plan, though largely successful, had flaws. The Second
Five Year Plan, however, rectified these flaws and as a result, Russia became a
highly developed industrial superpower.
Paragraph 4: purges and show trials
In the 1930s, millions suspected of criticising Stalin’s policies were executed or sent
to labour camps during the Great Terror, carried out by Stalin’s secret police. Show
trials forced Bolsheviks to confess publicly to crimes like disrupting the Five Year
Plans or plotting to kill Stalin. Stalin expelled over one million Communist Party
members and purged one-third of the red army which greatly affected its discipline
and effectiveness. A vast network of labour camps forced political prisoners,
including scientists, writers, engineers, and academics, to work on public projects or
in mines. These purges were crucial for Stalin to crush opposition and transform
Russia into a modernised industrial state without rivals or critics.