Russia 1917-91: Theme 4

What was the labour market like under Lenin? (intro of NEP and growing economic growth = real wages and job security.)

Collapse of indus prod 1918-21 so factory workers drifted to countryside, food supplies were reliable But factories had insufficient workers. WC forced unemployed to work. 1918labour conscription. End Civil war pressured labor market and 1mil unemployed 1

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What was labour market like under Lenin cont?...

NEP-> groups of workers in trades used for labour recruitment,=. Use of 'shock brigades' 1929 (young communists) owed much to their system. Under NEP wage differentials grew so skilled workers demanded more money = shortage skilled workers so increase in

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Discuss industrialisation and full employment...

No. hired workers rose from 11.6mil to 27 1928-37. Plentiful employment in heavy industry (high targets = full labour force). Lack of modern tech = more manual work resulting in peasants to drift to cities due to the hardships of collectivisation.

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What was full employments impact on workers?

old workers were replaced by peasant recruits resulting in workplace divisions = harrasment of new recruits. Trade unions faced restrictions and managers unwilling to improve working conditions, gov neglected basic health and safety.

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Full employments impact on workers cont?... (alexi Stakhanov encouraged work, shock brigades instilled socialist values. demobalisation 1945 due ww2.)

Low productivity, soviet produce 1/2 work of average brit. Labour shortages were concern (changes of jobs for better security common). So passport system intro 1932 which was needed for job changes and distributing rations = partial success 30% 1937 urban

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What was Housing like under Lenin and Stalin?

1917 Bolsheviks programme confiscating large houses of rich, renting too families of workers BUT no meet housing needs of all. Growth of towns/industrial centers under 5yr plan: got few resource, low priority, focus on industrialisation increase needs for

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Housing under Stalin cont...(1936 5% lived in Kitchen/corridor and 25% lived in dormitries)

Established cities saw growth, Moscows pop grew 2.2mil to 4.1 1929-36. Pop of magnitogorsk 25 to 250,000 1929-32 but lacked facilities, sleot in tents. Some improvements 1930s but still little effort. Where resources allowed it, apartment blocks built, al

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What were social benefits like under Stalin? (No. docs increased 70,000 to 155,000 1928-40. No. hospital beds 247,000 to 791,000 28-39. Sanitisation taken seriously, increased training women too.)

Cheap food in canteens, trade unions provided SBs:organised sport facilities, films and shows, 2 week paid holiday. Gov designed healthcare, benefit all pop and contained epidemics, like cholera/typhus 1918-20 20.6mil died. Lenin attempt intro Lice campai

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What were social benefits like under Khrushchev and Brezhnev? (70s support for system offering material rewarded advantages to majority, prod stability under B)

Society stabilized under K and B. Khrushchev's overly optimistic statement 1961 enjoy benefits of socialism emphasied economic prosperity as the foundation for a stable society.He didn't entirely do this but progress tangible enough for Brezhnev to discus

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Return to stable society under K and B: What was full employment like under Brezhnev?

Sov Constitution 1977 ensured full employment although unemployment common due to seasonal work and unemploymet after uni. Increase in real wages 1967-72 gave sov workers more power. There was a limited gap between best and worst paid workers helping stab

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Stable society under B and K: Job Security...

managers of ten ignored low work discipline standards absent to queue for food and moonlighting for extra incoming. Labour turnover high at 30% per year. Minimum wage intro 1956 ensuring workers no fall below poverty line. reduced working week 1957.

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Return to stable society under K and B: The Nomenklantura system... (Membership increased B's leadership, with advancement based on sponsor recommendations and region, promoting innovation and nepotism. Under B's leadership, promotion based on region, pro

CP was significant employer, with appointments in economic enterprises and promotions based on higher wages, privileges. Workers' employment depended on securing an internal passport and dwelling permit, with Moscow being the most sought-after.

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Return to a stable society under B and K: Education and youth...

Sov education system emphasized socialist value, party loyalty, with secondary education often completed before higher education. Boys girls equal access. Urban schools attracted better teachers. Education molded young communists, with progression from Oc

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Return to a stable society: Healthcare...

1950-1980, Soviet pop experienced significant healthcare growth, with polyclinics providing all-purpose care, sanatoria providing rest homes with medical facilities. 1978, over 2,000 sanatoria and 1,000 rest homes were linked to medical care.

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How stable was society under developed socialism?

The Soviet gov's increased living standard led to increased expectations, causing occasional problems and threatening social instability. This was evident in the 1956 Hungary uprising and the 1980 Poland unrest, where Soviet intervention was avoided due t

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What evidence was there of protest? (Terrorist actions rare, with bombings on Moscow Metro and assassinations on Brezhnev motorcades)

1959, Kazakhstan experienced unrest in Temirtau due poor living conditions, foodshort. Strikes, riots occurred Gorki, and Kiev. Free Trade Union Association established 1977 address Soviet workers' grievances, gained little support.

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What social problems still had effect on social cohesion?

WW2 = high divorce rates, increased alcohol consumption, rise in hooliganism, resulting in a significant increase men without father figures. Social stability threatened by social ills, family cohesion, and societal stability due to an inefficient economi

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What extent did the role of women and family change: what was the role of women like under Lenin and Stalin?

Russian radicals sought women's emancipation, with communists advancing this area. Lenin marriage as slavery, leading to reforms. Conservative Party members opposed ideas due to war and industrialization. 1935, return to trad family attitudes away from L

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How did the status of diff groups of women change in towns and countryside? (70% of divorces initiated by men abandoning pregnant women, equal pay impact slow to change)

1917, Bolsheviks implemented measures to improve women's status, including easier divorce, abortion, abolishing husband-wife laws, equal pay, and granting maternity, but these didn't automatically improve women's status. Divorce rates rise due lack of fin

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How did the civil war impact status of women?

Over 70,000 women fought in Red Army, with few holding high ranks. Millions recruited into factories, childcare provision inadequate. Gov resources were lacking, and long-term impact on women workforce was limited, leading to unemployment and prostitution

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How did the status of Islamic women change?

Bolsheviks aimed to break down male-dominated family traditions, educate women, and promote contraception. Their 1927 unveiling campaign gained support, but faced resistance and violence. Soviet government took a slower approach in the 1930s.

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How did collectivisation and industrialisation impact women countryside?

1930, Party closed Zhenotdel, claiming women's issues were resolved. But, these policies had significant consequences for women, who shared the burdens of collectivisation and industrialisation, accounting for 50% of the population. Traditional attitudes

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How did collectivisation and industrialisation impact women in countryside cont...

WW2 accelerated sex imbalance in rural areas, with able-bodied men joining the army and women providing agricultural work. Post-war, women faced hard labor due to shortages of animals. Social provision and the internal passport system improved women's sta

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How did collectivisation and industrialisation impact women in towns?

under 5yr Plans, women faced increased pressure in industries, dominated textiles, construction, lumbering, and engineering. Economic hardships 1930s led to female workers becoming role models. Higher ed expanded towns, granting women more opps and status

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How did collectivisation and industrialisation impact women in towns cont...

1930s, urban women, married to Soviet elites, were encouraged to engage in social work instead of the workforce. During WW2, women gained importance in industry, taking over men's roles. Despite claims of equality, 800,000 women served in the armed forces

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Russia 1917-91: Theme 4

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