2.4.2. Making a Socialist Society

During the civil war, the Bolsheviks kept industries and banks nationalised. They permitted peasants to cultivate the land that had been socialised. Bolsheviks used confiscated land to demonstrate what collective work could be.

In the midst of the civil war, the Bolshevik government took control of all industries and banks, which meant they were owned by the state instead of private individuals. This nationalisation was crucial for the Bolsheviks as it allowed them to manage resources to support the war effort and to assert their power. Peasants were given the right to farm the land that had been taken from wealthy landowners ('socialised land'), demonstrating the principle of collective work. This was necessary to show that working together would benefit the community.

Think of a community garden where everyone in a neighborhood contributes to planting and maintaining the garden. In this case, no single person owns the garden, but all who participate share in the benefits, like fresh vegetables. Similarly, in Bolshevik Russia, the goal was to show how collective ownership could work for the good of everyone.

A process of centralised planning was introduced. Officials assessed how the economy could work and set targets for a five-year period. On this basis they made the Five Year Plans. The government fixed all prices to promote industrial growth during the first two 'Plans'.

The government implemented a strategy known as centralised planning, where officials mapped out the economic activities of the country by analyzing various resources and needs. They set specific targets for the economy over five years, known as the Five-Year Plans, which detailed what the state wanted to achieve in terms of production and development. The state also set all prices to ensure that growth in industry was prioritized and controlled. This meant that the government dictated how much goods cost to facilitate the planned growth.

Imagine you are a team captain planning a group project for school. You and your team decide on a goal to complete in five weeks. You outline what tasks need to be done each week, set deadlines, and allocate resources—all aimed at ensuring successful completion. In the same way, the Bolshevik government structured the economy with clear goals and plans to guide production and growth.

Centralised planning led to economic growth. Industrial production increased (between 1929 and 1933 by 100 per cent in the case of oil, coal and steel). New factory cities came into being. However, rapid construction led to poor working conditions. In the city of Magnitogorsk, the construction of a steel plant was achieved in three years. Workers lived hard lives and the result was 550 stoppages of work in the first year alone.

The shift to centralised planning resulted in significant industrial growth, with doubling production in several key sectors like oil, coal, and steel between 1929 and 1933. This economic success led to the rapid development of new factory cities, which were essential for industrial production. However, this fast pace of expansion came at a cost. Workers faced harsh conditions, leading to numerous strikes and work stoppages as labor conditions deteriorated amidst the unprecedented pressure to produce.

Consider a start-up company that experiences rapid growth because of high demand for its product. Initially, everyone is excited, but as the company tries to expand too quickly without proper infrastructure or employee support, workers become overwhelmed, stressed, and unhappy. They might strike or quit. Similarly, in Soviet Russia, the rush to build a new industrial economy resulted in dissatisfaction among workers due to poor conditions.

An extended schooling system developed, and arrangements were made for factory workers and peasants to enter universities. Crèches were established in factories for the children of women workers. Cheap public health care was provided.

Alongside economic changes, the government invested in education, creating an extended schooling system that allowed workers, including factory workers and peasants, to pursue higher education. It also established crèches (daycare centers) in workplaces to care for the children of working mothers, acknowledging the dual burden women faced. Moreover, the state offered affordable public health care, which was essential for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce.

Think about a company that realizes its workers need support not only at the office but also at home. To help employees balance work and family life, the company provides on-site daycare and funds education programs. This keeps employees happy and healthy, contributing to better productivity and morale. Similarly, the Soviet government recognized that educating its workers and supporting families would help build a stronger society.

The effect of all this was uneven, though, since government resources were limited.

While the Bolshevik plans led to many advancements, the results were not uniform across the board. Government resources faced limitations, which meant that not every initiative received equal attention or funding. This uneven allocation of resources created disparities in social programs and economic benefits, contributing to varied experiences among different groups within society.

Consider a school that tries to implement a new program for all students but only has resources for a few classes. Some students get to enjoy new technology and lessons while others miss out entirely. Similarly, in Soviet Russia, despite ambitious goals, the limited resources meant that not every community or worker benefited equally from the new initiatives.

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