Soviet economic development from Lenin to Khrushchev

Table of Contents List of maps List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements Main dates in Russian and Soviet history Glossary 1. Introduction 2. The Tsarist economy 3. War Communism, 1918-1920 4. The new economic policy of the 1920s 5. Measuring Soviet economic growth 6. Soviet economic development, 1928-1965 7. The Soviet economic system, 1928-1965 8. Soviet industrialisation in perspective Further reading References Index.

This book provides a comprehensive survey of Soviet economic development from 1917 to 1965 in the context of the pre-revolutionary economy. In these years the Soviet Union negotiated the first stages of modern industrialisation and then, after the defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies, emerged as one of the two world superpowers. This was also the first attempt to construct a planned socialist order. These developments resulted in great economic achievements at great human cost. Using the results of recent Russian and Western research, Professor Davies discusses the inherent faults and strengths of the system, and pays particular attention to the major controversies. Was the Russian Revolution doomed to failure from the outset? Could the mixed economy of the 1920s have led to a democratic socialist economy? What was the influence of Soviet economic development on the rest of the world? Authoritative presentation of the major controversies Uses material from Russian archives opened since 1991 Clear presentation in non-technical terms of main statistical series and discussion of problems underlying them (i.e. reliability of statistics)