Essay On What Role Did Stalin Play In The Development Of Russia

Throughout the period of 1856-1964, Russia had been involved in 10 major wars, all in which had played an integral role in Russia’s development. For both the commissar’s and Tsars these wars had highlighted the economic stagnation prior to the war, which allowed a modern Russia to develop that was stimulated by a change from agriculture to industry. However, the role of the reforming leaders and popular pressure also played a part in this economic change.
Russia’s preparation for World War 2 was significant in bringing about economic change through the use of Stalin’s Five year plans. The outcome of previous wars gave Stalin the impression that in order for Russia to be successful in a war the country needed to be modernised. Stalin wanted to construct a command economy that was geared to protect them from the hostility of the west. In 1931, Stalin stated “We must make a good distance in 10 years. Either we do this or were crushed .” This infers that Russia was not in a position to defend
Despite facing opposition by the peasants who took violent actions and holding back grain which prevented collectivisation, Stalin was able to modernise agriculture from its backwardness. This was evident dekulakisation as well as boosting the grain production. By 1941, 98% of farms in rural areas had been collectivised and in 1930, grain output was 83.4 million tonnes which provided for the industrial city and even allowed Russia to export. Therefore, Stalin was able to modernise the agricultural sector within Russia as well as tackling the problem of scarcity in the industrial city which was needed to execute Stalin’s five year plans. However, Stalin’s role in bringing about modernisation is limited because he was to hard line with collectivisation which caused the famine in 1932, that had a disastrous effect on the economy due to the loss of labour