Political and Economic Change in Russia BY GIOVANNI CORTI
Dec 26, 2015
Russian Civil War: A Timeline March 1917-Februrary Revolution
◦ March 7th-mass protests in the capital ◦ Mutiny of the army◦ Tsar Nicholas abdicates on March 15th
March 15th-Provisional Government Begins◦ March 22nd-Recognized by the USA◦ September 14th-Duma Dissolved, country officially declared the Russian Republic
November 7th-October Revolution◦ October 23rd- Bolshevik Central Committee decide an armed uprising is inevitable◦ November 7th-Winter Palace Stormed, Anti-Bolshevik movement begins
October 1922-Valdivostock falls, fighting completely over
Russian Civil War: Causes and EffectsCAUSES
War related difficulties◦ Millions of soldiers died ◦ Army severely underfunded
Lack of equality◦ Both wealth and power◦ Duma had little power
Riots caused by food shortages◦ Solders join riots
Nicholas II◦ Uncompromising, refused to share power◦ Incompetent
EFFECTS
Communists eventually gain power◦ Lenin moves away from hardline communism
toward NEP
Removal of the Royal Family◦ Eventually executed
Economy Devastated◦ Infrastructure Destroyed◦ Industrial production down 85% from 1913◦ Agriculture production down 65% from 1913
New Economic Policy 1921-1925CAUSES
Famine◦ Russian Civil war◦ Bad weather◦ Loss of population in cities
Taxes rather than requisition◦ Allowed peasants to keep and sell surplus
EFFECTS
Allowed limited private industry ◦ Mostly in agriculture
Agricultural production increase 40%
Caused rift within the communist party◦ Stalin opposed
Stalin: 1924-1953 Seized Power
◦ Blamed Sergei Kirov’s murder on Trotsky’s followers.◦ Eventually had Trotsky assassinated
Oppressive ruler◦ Police Terrorism◦ Massive purges
Five year plans- Plans to rapidly industrialize the USSR included staggering goals◦ Ended NEP◦ Increase Industrial production by 250%◦ Increase Agricultural production by 150%◦ Increase heavy industry by 300%
Collectivization: 1928CAUSES
Compete with Westernized Nations
Communist Ideals◦ Lenin thought small scale farming gave rise to
capitalism
Greater efficiency◦ Grain Shortages◦ Agricultural output slated to increase 150%
EFFECTS
Death◦ In 1945 Stalin admitted that collectivization killed over 10
million◦ Famine
Kulak Persecution◦ Kulaks- better off peasants◦ Stalin ordered them “liquidated as a class”
Peasant Resistance◦ Some peasants saw this as a second form of serfdom, they
sabotaged the reforms
Religious persecution◦ Churches closed◦ Priests arrested
Industrialization: 1928CAUSES
Compete with westernized nations
Foreign engineers◦ American engineers from depression era
America
Labor disciple◦ Jobs assigned by government◦ Movement required permission
EFFECTS
Heavy investment◦ 1/3 of the soviet GDP was invested in
industrialization◦ Standards of living did not rise due to heavy
investment
Rise of cities◦ Industrial complex’s spawned cities
Steel◦ Steel production increased 500% in 9 years
Destalinization:1955
CAUSES
Nikita Khrushchev became First secretary ◦ 2 years after Stalin's death
Stalin’s dictatorial style
Started by secret speech◦ Sharply criticized Stalin◦ Reveled that Lenin had doubted Stalin
EFFECTS
Attempt to expunge Stalin’s legacy◦ Stalingrad changed to Volgograd◦ Stalin’s name removed from many other locations◦ Stalin's body moved out of Lenin’s mausoleum
Satellite Countries were able to form their own governments
◦ Still under soviet control
End of forced labor◦ Gulags were made more humane◦ Gulags began to shrink exponentially
The process of removing Stalin's cult of, political system and labor camps
Glasnost:1985CAUSES
Started by Gorbachev
Corruption and abuse of power◦ An attempt to bring openness and transparency
to soviet politics
EFFECTS
Greater freedom of expression◦ Nationalist parties in various republics gained strength
Political prisoners released
Looser travel restrictions
Greater freedom of press◦ Government lost control of media◦ Societal problems such as alcoholism and food
shortages exposed◦ More western culture◦ People learned about past atrocities◦ Communist system discredited
Perestroika:1985CAUSES
Started by Gorbachev
Attempt to jump start soviet economy ◦ In 1985 Gorbachev gave a speech admitting to a
slowing economy and an unacceptable standard of living
EFFECTS
Greater autonomy in industry◦ State enterprises free to determine output based
on consumer demand◦ Some private business ownership (Restaurants,
shops etc.)◦ More relaxed foreign trade
Ceased Religious persecution
Relaxation of censorship◦ Books such as 1984 and Animal Farm could now be
published
Fall of the Soviet Union:1991CAUSES
Loosening/Loss of control◦ Glasnost◦ Perestroika◦ Loss of control in satellite states◦ Fall of the Berlin Wall
Unrest in various republics
Failed August coup◦ Hardline communists attempted to remove Gorbachev
Officially occurs December 25th 1991
Stagnant Economy◦ Lack of incentives lead to little innovation and low productivity◦ Competitive military spending
EFFECTS
Dominance of USA
Turmoil in Russia
Formation of Russian Republic and other countries
◦ Political and economic turmoil in some newly formed countries
◦ Shock therapy in Russia, GDP falls by 50%
Russian Republic: Post Soviet Economic ReformsCAUSES
Free market system
EFFECTS
Shock Therapy◦ Cut government spending drastically◦ Eliminated massive inflation◦ Ended protectionism◦ Advised by USA and IMF◦ Failed, caused national GDP to drop by 50%
Privatization◦ $30 given to every Russian citizen to buy stock◦ Oligarchs ended up with rights to most valuable
industry
Putin slowly renationalizing oil
Russian Republic: Post Soviet Political ReformsCAUSES
New government
Stronger rule of law◦ Trend Started by Gorbachev
EFFECTS
New constitution◦ New governmental institutions
Chechen Wars
Commonwealth of independent states
Elections◦ Many candidates◦ Wide range of ideologies
Corruption still fairly widespread◦ 26% chance of using bribes in judicial system◦ Ranks 133/174 transparency internationals index
Trends and Statistics Revolution rather than evolution
GDP: $2.015 Trillion (2012)◦ 506 billion (1989)
GDP Per capita $14,037 (2012)◦ Per Capita $3,428 (1989)
Exports mainly natural resources
Ranks 52nd on Gini (wealth inequality) index◦ Score of 41.7◦ Between south Korea and Cote D’Ivoire ◦ USA ranks 41st