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Compare and contrast the economic policies of Lenin and Stalin and evaluate their success.

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Compare and contrast the economic policies of Lenin and Stalin and evaluate their success.

Comparing Lenin and Stalin one finds that both were following a communist ideal but what is the communist ideal? The main principal is to share a country's wealth amongst its people. This is the theoretical side of the communist idea; the practical side requires a careful planning of the country's economy and also a system that makes sure that everybody is treated equally.

When Lenin and the communist party took over power, following the revolution in 1917, Lenin made sure that a council took over the planning of the economy. The council was called the "Vesenkha" and established a planning commission in 1921 called the "Gosplan".

Following his …show more content…

To combine this compromise with the ideology of the party, the state kept control of the heavy industries. Lenin saw the NEP as a short-term fix which meant "a step backwards" in the development of communism but one which would restore the economy. Once this had happened, the country could take the "two steps forwards" to achieve a communist state. The success of the NEP was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the NEP had revived the economy, increased foreign trade and also electrified the country which was seen as a great success. On the other hand the NEP divided the party into a left and right wing.

After Lenin's death in 1924, two conflicting schools of thought about the future of the Soviet Union arose in party debates. Trotsky, one of the primary proponents of the party's left wing, believed that a world revolution was essential for the survival of socialism in the economically backward Soviet Union. However, the left wing's domestic policy also advocated rapid development of the economy and the creation of a socialist society.

In contrast to these "militant communists" (Internet: Lenin's Leadership), Burkharin, one of the primary supporters of the right wing, realized that an immediate world revolution was unlikely. He favoured the gradual development of the Soviet Union through pragmatic programs like the NEP.

Stalin, on the other hand, aligned himself with the right wing of the party, even though he did not believe in the NEP. He wanted

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