Stalin’s ‘Second Revolution’ (1928–53)

Aims: Modernise USSR via collectivisation (agriculture) and industrialisation (industry).
Described as a “revolution from above”: political power reshaped the economy, reversing Marxist theory.
Gosplan was the planning agency; scale and speed of plans were new.

Collectivisation (1928–1939)

Claimed voluntary, but was forcibly imposed on peasants.
Kulaks (wealthy peasants) scapegoated as enemies of socialism—mythical class, used to justify repression.
Purpose:
- Extract grain to fund industrialisation.
- Free up rural labour for factories.
De-Kulakisation: mass deportation, violence, forced labour camps.
Outcome:
- By 1939, ~100% of farms collectivised.
- Grain/livestock destroyed by peasants in protest → famine (1932–33).
- Ukraine and Kazakhstan especially affected (Kazakhstan lost ~90% of livestock).
Starvation & repression:
- ~10–15 million dead.
- Famine denied officially; no aid sought.
Economically ineffective:
- Grain production insufficient.
- Better results could’ve come from moderate taxation of peasants (Bukharin’s policy).

Aimed at heavy industry: coal, steel, oil, electricity.
Unrealistic targets (multiple versions); stats falsified.
Emphasis on quantity, not quality.
Poor conditions.
- Forced labour, propaganda, terror (e.g., ‘wreckers’ trials).
- Living standards fell.
- Major achievements: electricity, coal, iron up significantly.
- Consumer goods neglected.

Slightly more realistic but still disorganised.
Some gains in heavy industry, but shortages/hoarding due to competition between regions.
Massive purges of engineers and managers damaged productivity.
Workers’ conditions worsened: overcrowding, low wages, no strike rights.
Stakhanovite movement (1935) used for propaganda, not real productivity.