The New Economic Policy

How uttermost were sparingal problems responsible for Stalins finality to supercede the New Economic policy in 1928 with the primary Five-Year Plan ? There seemed to be various reasons why Stalin decided to knock tail end the New Economic Policy with the frontmost Five-Year Plan in 1928. These included economic problems, the case of political orientation, a fear of onslaught and political considerations. Although economic problems certainly were an definitive reason for Stalins decisiveness, the most probatory reason must admit been political, since the consolidation of his power arrange had always been Stalins prime concern.The occurrence of economic problems presumably played a study role in Stalins last to give the axe away from the New Economic Policy (NEP), although it must be noted that, ahead that time, the NEP had had its, albeit limited, success By 1925 the NEP had returned the economic system to its pre-war levels, and by 1927 both agriculture and ind ustrial occupation exceeded their pre-war level. However, the NEP had run into problems such as the scissors grip crisis in 1924 and the grain procurement crisis of 1927-28.For Stalin and some pragmatists who had supported the NEP because it had been workings, the grain procurement crisis brought matters to a head. Russia was by 1928 still an economically converse country compared to the large economies of Western europium and especially the USA. Farming methods still were essentially backwards and unproductive. In industry in that location was a genuine necessity for the economy to develop and compete with western competitors far ahead of Russia.Economic problems were likely to be a catalyst for the bold measures of the first Five-Year Plan, since Stalin snarl that without it Russia would keep lagging slowly. Ideological aspects as well as seemed to matter in Stalins decision making, although his admit ideologic position butt end be seen as somewhat blurred, since he u sed to frequently change policies check to what suited him best in his inquisition of a leading role in the Communist Party. For example, before his policy U-turn in 1928 Stalin had defended the NEC against opposition from the left fly of the Party.By 1927-28, when the NEP began to experience problems, Stalin sensed that stressing Communist ideological believes would gain him a lot of support. umteen a(prenominal) Communists, especially those of the left locomote, saw the NEP as a retreat from Marxist, anti-capitalist principles and the urban working class resented the special position of the peasants under the NEP. Growing mass unemployment in the towns and fare shortages combined with the ideological distaste matte by many Communists for the NEP and the Nepmen.This led Stalin to earnings a class war against the peasants and the Kulaks in particular, branding those who would resist collectivisation as enemies of the people or enemies of the revolution. Communist ideology played their part in Stalins decision making since it ensured support not only from the Party but too from the workers and gave Stalin the moral grounds to prevail and unspoilt control of the state. A fear of incursion must also cast been important in Stalins decision, as since back during the Civil War of 1918-21, when the western powers had all the way supported the Whites, the Communists had a certain suspiciousness for them.Russia found itself in a far from ideal international climate during the slow 1920s, which clearly suggested that the Soviet Union was adjoin by hostile nations which undermined its national security. Stalin seemed to have felt the necessity for both desktop up self-sufficiency in viands for thought production and industrialise rapidly in order to built up the arm forces and prepare Russia for war against the capitalist powers, or, as he would say at a Party meeting Either we do it or they crush us. Since under the NEP these goals were improbabl e to be accomplished, a fear of aggression probably was an important motivator behind the shift to the first Five-Year Plan. Finally, and most importantly, political considerations led Stalin to replace the NEP. It could be seen as a continuation of the leadership jumble that had set in after the demolition of Lenin in 1924 and demonstrated Stalins advantage over Bukharin, who was the leading advocate of the NEP. Stalin could confront that he was able to apply his own policies and, in doing so, consolidate his position.The Plan would pull ahead gain him the support of the left wing of the Communist Party, which had been leaderless when Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky were defeated and humiliated in 1927. In addition, he still advocated collectivism in one country and whence appealed to Russian nationalism. Self-sufficiency in food production and not being dependant on foreign grain imports was universal as it would make Russia appear stronger and husband money which could b e used to ameliorate living conditions.Political considerations were of prime importance to Stalin since he knew that if he could deliver all these things, it would march the sanctioned aim of securing his leadership position for the time to come. Overall, while it was possibly a combination of all factors discussed that played a role in Stalins decision to abandon the NEP in favour of the first Five-Year Plan, political considerations must have been the major driving force.However urgent a declaration of the pressing economic problems was, Stalin had proven consistently throughout the leadership challenge of 1924-1928 that his basic aim was the consolidation of his power. He had repeatedly changed his policies to decimate both the left and even off wing of the Party. Like so many times before, it is quite probable that his decision was yet another piece of opportunism. Had it not been for the unpopularity of the NEP among many Party members, it is questionable whether Stalin w ould have taken such bold steps.