How successful were soviet leaders in creating a socialist economy in the years 1917-1941?

A socialist economy is one which there is shared ownership of resources and central planning to offer a fair distribution of goods and services. It holds workers who contribute to economic output who expect a proportionate reward. Under a true socialist system, it is the government’s role to determine output and pricing levels. The two chief figures in the Communist Party - Lenin and Stalin – were eager to take on a new method of running the

After the October revolution, whereby the Bolsheviks took over the Winter Palace, banishing Tsardom for good, there was a shift in the economy of Russia towards socialism. Lenin became the new leader and confirmed the conviction that the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ would need the repression of ‘counter revolutionary’ enemies who posed as a threat to the plan to progress to a socialist economy. Lenin understood that his party were not going to gain a majority over the Socialist Revolutionaries and so completely dissolved the Assembly and began transforming Russia’s economy which, at this time, was suffering from social challenges. Although certain reforms had been made, the peasants were still treated poorly and taken advantage of by the nobles. At the same time, World War 1 was taking place which also negatively affected Russia’s economy.

Lenin decided to use ideological principles to motivate the country, such as using the Marxist view that the government should be in the hands of the people. The slogan 'all power to the soviets' was used to show that people would readily enjoy and support the Bolshevik government. However, Lenin actually had little choice over this matter, peasants were already seizing land and workers were taking over factories. The decrees didn't help conditions necessary for socialism, it could be argued that this particular soviet leader was attempting to take credit for a revolution that was already occurring. However, the government heavily contradicted the Marxist principle of 'power to the people' when they adopted the Communist party in March 1918, this meant that it was a one party state with no input from other politicians or the people themselves.

During the Russian Civil War of 1917-1921, the Bolsheviks became increasingly unpopular, possibly due to the fact that they had seized power without the vote of the people and decided to maintain a socialist attitude when many desired the Tsarist autocracy or a democracy. In addition, Russia's withdrawal from the war was deemed unpatriotic. The war had caused high inflation and food shortages, therefore a poor economy, the uneven distribution of land meant that peasants did not feel valued by the Bolsheviks. Overall, even though Lenin's party won the war, the Russian people were not in the ideal Socialist State that was desired. Between 1921 and 1924 (Lenin's death) many key features of the soviet state were put in place. There was an attack on the Church as it was a rival power source, the power of the police was expanded and censorship became paramount in society. Political enemies were…