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"Collectivisation in the USSR, in the years 1929 - 1941, was almost…
"Collectivisation in the USSR, in the years 1929 - 1941, was almost solely an ideological success" Assess the validity of this view
Ideological Success
Historian Orlando Figes
Stalin believed that peasants were too imbued with private property, despite the existence of some communes
By 1941, 98 to 100% of farms went from being family owned to being state owned or communally owned
Essential to move away from capitalist NEP, and to move towards a more socialist country.
Destruction of the Kulaks, and the abolishment of the class differences
Originally, peasants on collectivised farms were still farming illegally on private plots of land
Many Peasants, especially those hit by famine in 1932-33 felt like they were being let down by the government. Theorised that they only joined out of fear of the Twenty-five-thousanders.
Political Success
Orlando Figes
Power Struggle. Peasants could hold state at ransom by witholding grain from them and keeping profits private. This combined with a 'distrust of the peasantry' helped in driving collectivisation.
Peasants originally hated collectivisation, but out of fear of being labeled a Kulak, most reluctantly accepted collectivisation
Not only the peasants, but also Stalins success in the political party. Aimed to pick a fight with Bukharin
Whilst his policies were unpopular, they were succesfull.
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Social Failure
Cities
Although city population was increasing, this was largely people who felt betrayal by the regime. Run away from farms or replace by machines.
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Rural
Widespread famine from 1932-33. 5-8.5 million people dead due to famine, directly as a result of collectivistion.
Unrest increasing. This was dealt with brutally, i.e. villages being burnt down and people being sent to labour camps.
Genocide?
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Figes: Not enough evidence to say genocide was a policy. However the number of dead people highlighted the fact that it was political and ideological factors driving collectivisation.
Economic Success
Led to an increase in urbanisation (More people moving towards larger cities) 1 in 3 in forced collectivised farms moved to citites. Population in late 20's etimated to increase at 50k per week
Led to cheap labour. Many peasants had no education, so could be used in factories
Led to the development of new machinery, I.e tractor stations in the countryside. This is because the USSR was able to produce more locally, and was less reliant on importing goods, spending the money elsewhere.
Economic Failure
Major problems in rural areas. Loss of kulaks through Kulakization meant the loss of the best farmers
Fear led to deliberate destruction of cattle and farms to avoid being labeled a Kulak. Complete waste, and could have been used to help cure famine later.
Only 1 in 40 farms had access to tractor farms. Although tractors became more popular, manual labor still played a larger part. State-owned farms always had better machinery than communally owneed onces.
There were major issues with production following collectivization. Collectives were poorly organized, and the activists who helped established them had no knowledge of farming.