Key topic 4: Economic and social changes, 1924–41 - 2 Changes in industry:…

The idea

Stalin’s drive for rapid industrialisation was fuelled by a complex mix of economic, ideological, and security motives, heavily influenced by the failings of the New Economic Policy (NEP). Economically, the NEP was failing to industrialise Russia quickly enough; the 'Scissors Crisis' and the 1927 grain procurement crisis highlighted its limitations. Ideologically, the NEP's tolerance of capitalist 'Nepmen' and private trade contradicted Marxist principles, which Stalin sought to replace with a fully socialist command economy. Furthermore, Stalin feared foreign invasion, famously declaring that Russia was fifty to a hundred years behind advanced countries and had to close the gap in ten years to survive militarily.

What earns the marks

• Explain the ideological motive to eliminate the capitalist elements of the NEP, such as Nepmen and private enterprise, to build a true socialist state.
• Describe the economic failings of the NEP, particularly its inability to generate sufficient capital for industrial expansion and the recurring grain procurement crises.
• Analyse the military and security motives, focusing on Stalin's fear of capitalist encirclement and the need for a modern armaments industry.
• Identify the political motive, noting how championing rapid industrialisation allowed Stalin to outmanoeuvre political rivals like Bukharin on the right wing of the Party.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the NEP was a complete economic disaster from the start.

  Put it right by noting it initially helped Russia recover from the Civil War but stagnated by the late 1920s.

• Overlooking the political dimension of industrialisation.

  Put it right by explaining that abandoning the NEP was a deliberate tactic by Stalin to defeat the Right Opposition.

• Failing to link industrialisation to national defence.

  Put it right: Explicitly connecting the push for heavy industry (steel, coal, iron) to the production of military hardware.

Exam tips

• Use Stalin's quote about being 'fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries' to powerfully illustrate his national security motives.
• When discussing the failings of the NEP, specifically mention the 'Scissors Crisis' (industrial prices rising while agricultural prices fell) to demonstrate deep economic knowledge.
• Ensure you balance ideological motives (creating a proletarian society) with practical motives (preparing for potential war).