Social Security

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  • Social Security
    • Full employment and Social benefits, 1917 - 1953
      • Lenin and Stalin tried to create systems that rewarded work and give workers benefits, economic problems undermined this and party members received better benefits
      • Marxism tries to reward work, and give property to workers, the revolution should provide; 'from each according to their ability to each according to their ability','from each according to their ability to each according to their need '
      • Lenin tried to rid exploitation by; abolishing private land, universal labour duty
      • In early years revolution caused economic chaos, many were unemployed, however applied bourgeois specialists
      • War communism was based on a relationship between workers and government, compulsory labour removed unemployment, money abolished, rations allocated due to occupation, free travel, free laundries
      • Compulsory work and rations were unsuccessful; unsuitable labour conditions, unemployed forced to look for resources, never provided more than 50% of food needed, factory closes
      • NEP returned state capitalism, unemployment surged; Red army was demobilised, urban workers returned, lower labour costs meant less workers, sacking of administrators
      • During 1920's benefits occurred; union rights, social insurance, education; unemployment was high but workers were payed more, ate more, peasants mistreated
      • Rapid industrialisation led to full employment, safety was not ensured, harsh labour discipline undid many of Lenin's benefits, continuous work weeks, no right to change job
      • Five year plans did lead to benefits; food rations, electricity, railways, Moscow metro, health provisions, free meals, peasants still misfortune, party members put first, radical inequality
      • Full employment continued after war, yet hard to get food, however conditions improved over time; infant morality declined 50%, medical doctors increased by 2/3, common diseases cured
        • However; planned economy struggled to make simple consumer goods, shortages of food, sanitation in factories bad, hygiene education was poor
    • Housing, 1917 - 1953
      • Housing was a continual problem, most destroyed in ww2, housing was expensive, more people moved to cities
      • In the 1920's authorities redistributed existing housing, taking it from rich property owners, however in civil war wood buildings were destroyed for timber
      • Private property returned with NEP, but after Lenin's death redistribution returned, one room thought enough for a family, churches converted
      • House building restarted after civil war by private companies
      • Under Stalin housing was an acute problem, urban population trebled, demand for accommodation was large, but government tried to budget housing to a minimum
        • Existing buildings were split into Kommunlka, one room for families with communal kitchen, lighting, bathrooms although few had bathrooms
          • Coal sheds and under stairs were converted, corner living occurred in Kommunlka
      • Factory town constructed to support industry, plans of nice housing fell through
        • WW2 made housing situation worse, 1/3 houses destroyed, average workers had 4 meters space, furniture scarce, building own homes schemes, housing was not a priority, agriculture was built though
    • Khrushchev, Brezhnev and the promotion of the stable society, 1953 - 1985
      • Full employment continued , however focused swapped from industry to better standards of living
      • Khrushchev summarised his approach  with 'What sort of communism is it that cannot produce sausage?'
      • Khrushchev believed a socialist society should look at the welfare for all; healthcare budget doubled, pension budget quadrupled major reforms introduced; free lunches, free public transport, full pensions and healthcare for farmers
      • Khrushchev had similar success in housing; urban housing doubled 1950 - 1956, halted government building and invested in  cheap mass block buildings that could be upgraded (Khrushchyovka, were built into 1980s)
      • Khrushchev buildings were low cost functional buildings, built quickly, prefabricated, concrete panels standardise windows and doors
      • Families could now have an entire apartment to themselves, these included bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, elevators, 5 stories, still small
      • New apartments created privacy from state, created propaganda campaign for citizens to live good lives
      • Brezhnev 'social policy' followed Kshev path, justifications changed; to promote a stable society
        • Rule was based on social contract, gov offered greater benefits like; job security, low prices, second economy, social benefits, social mobility, in return for obedience and conformity
          • social contract led to stagnation, 20% workers in unusefull jobs, Labour shortages, female unemployment, infant mortality, lifespan, low economic performance threatened social stability
        • citizens guaranteed comfortable life with black market and benefits, opposition to gov was rare, successful in promoting social stability

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