Russia 2

A detailed Summary of Russia 2

In recent times, Russian presses have been full of articles analyzing the Russian economy and making forecasts, most of them pessimistic. Many would say the Russian economy has failed miserably in the past one hundred years. After the 1917 Revolution, an attempt was made by the Communists to create an economy based on socialist principles. The thought was that the capitalist system led to a chaotic economy, cruel exploitation of workers and unemployment. The Russian socialist economy rests on the basic principles formed by Karl Marx: A centrally planned economy. This "planned economy" would be in use for the next sixty years.

"In 1929-1930, under the process of collectivization, the land of Russia became state-owned and cooperatively-owned. There was no longer any private land ownership." (Torchinsky, 48) The state became the monopolist of the economy. Economy planning bodies worked out the famous "Five-year plans." The plans regulated everything from production of aircraft to nails and even eggs. They believed that since the means of production belonged to the state, and hence, collectively, to the people, (because a socialist state is a state belonging to the people) the state should control everything. This was to

However, over the long term, this style of economy seems to have failed in Russia. At certain times-for instance, in restoring the national economy after World War 1, the Civil War, and World War II, "The states rigid economic monopoly achieved certain successes, but later the basic principles of socialist economic management became an insuperable obstacle blocking economic progress in the Soviet Union and in Russia." (Flint, 12) Abolishing private ownership of businesses and land killed people's desire to succeed or to create and increase their own property. The driving force of personal gain was absent from all work activity by the people. The socialist lifestyle assumed that tireless and selfless labor for the benefit of society would succeed.

Although the situation in Russia is very difficult, positive aspects offer hope for a recovery. The privatization process in different industries is progressing, though with great difficulties. The agricultural industry is waiting for the transference of land to the peasants-a very risky step that could either save the country or ruin it completely. Russia has to create a successful agricultural base to thrive economically. "As of July 1, 1993, the number of private farms in Russia was 258,000; they occupied a territory of 27 million acres." (Flint, 33) Most farmland is still controlled by former state farms or collectives, but now they are reconstructed to be joint-stock companies. Agricultural output and grain production has been declining since the early 1990's.

The Socialist economic theory assumed that people would work hard because they were working for the collective good, and hence their own good; therefore there would be n

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Approximate Word count = 1148
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History