10The “New Economic Policy” (NEP) and Bolshevik Culture

Overview

A. ThemesB. Why the NEPC. Basic ConceptionsD. TermsE. PerformanceF. ProblemsG. DemographyH. SocietyI. CultureJ. Conclusion

A. Themes

1. No “NEP”: pragmatic, ad hoc reaction to crises and problems

2. Why? Multi-causal—popular unrest, fading hope of world revolution

3. NEP as “dual economy” with “capitalist” and “socialist” sectors

4. Chronological dynamic: recovery to 1925, then mounting problems

5. Foregoing as background to social tensions, political conflict, and cultural turmoil of Twenties

6. Demographic recovery: population growth and re-urbanization

7. Family revolution8. Cultural Revolution and cultural construction

B. Why the NEP?

1. Worker unrest

2. Peasant rebellion

3. Fading prospects of world revolution

4. Trigger: Kronshtadt insurrection

1921-22 Famine

Famine of 1921-2

Famine 1921-22

Russian Committee for Aid to the Starving 1921

American Famine Relief: ARA (1921)

American Famine Relief: ARA

American Famine Relief: ARA

NEP: Transitional

Kronshtadt: Insurrection, Repression (1921)

C. NEP: Basic Conceptions

1. Dual economy concept

2. Embedded contradictions

3. Politics of NEP

4. Evolving conception

1922 Poster: Appeal to Rebuild the Economy

1924: Electrification and New World

D. Terms of NEP

1. Agriculture

2. Trade

3. Monetary policy

4. Industry

5. Foreign concessions

Advertisement: Boots from Rezinotrest (Rubber Trust)

Advertisement: Cigarette “Ira”

Advertisement: Light Bulbs in GUM

Advertisement: “Kremlin” Cigarettes

Advertisement: Moscow Village Handicrafts

Advertisement: Best Nipples Are from Rezinotrest

Advertisement: Chocolate Bars from Pishchetrest (Food Trust)

Table 1: Industrial Recovery under NEP

Branch 1913 1921 1924 1926

Industrial Output (1926-7 rubles

10251 2004 4660 11083

Coal (mln tons 29 9 16 27.6

Electricity (mln kw/hrs

1945 520 1562 3508

Pig iron (thous. Tons)

4216 116 755 2441

Steel (thous tons)

4231 183 1140 3141

Cotton (mln meters)

2582 105 963 2286

Table 2: Rate of Economic Growth (as percent of previous year)

Fiscal Year Agriculture Industry GDP

1922-3 136.6 130.4 135.1

1923-4 106.9 132.8 113.3

1924-5 116.2 147.6 124.1

1925-6 119.2 137.4 125.7

1926-7 104.1 113.7 107.6

Table 3: Recovery of Prewar Production Levels (percent of 1913)

Fiscal Year Agriculture Industry GDP

1921-2 46.8 26.0 52.3

1922-3 63.9 33.9 52.3

1923-4 68.4 45.1 59.8

1924-5 79.5 65.2 74.2

1925-6 94.5 90.8 93.3

1926-7 98.6 103.3 100.3

F. Problems

1. Instability: Fluctuations, recurring crises

2. Social dangers: empowering kulaks and bourgeoisie

3. Intra-Party tensions

4. Post 1925: slowdown

Demography

1. Population losses

2. Mortality and Fertility

3. Re-Urbanization

1926 Poster: Cooperate in Census

Demographic Indicators(per 1,000 inhabitants)

Country Fertility Mortality Infant Mortality

Russia 44.0 22.9 206

Germany 21.1 12.9 112

UK 19.3 12.2 73.8

USA 25.0 11.9 73.1

C. Society

1. Dynamics

2. Social Categoriesa. Workers

b. Peasants

c. Sluzhashchie

d. “Alien elements”: Bourgeois, Nepman, Clergy

e. Outcasts

3. Family revolution

Class Structure, 1913-28

Category 1913 1924 1928

Workers 14.6 10.4 12.4

Sluzhashchie 2.4 4.4 5.2

Peasants 66.7 75.4 74.9

Kolkhozniki and Coop Artisans

1.3 2.9

“Bourgeoisie” 16.3 8.5 4.6

Peasant Strata: Bolshevik Categories

Category Number (Millions)

Batrak (landless peasant) 8

Bedniak (poor peasant) 20

Seredniak (middle peasant) 80

Kulak (rich peasant) 5

Nepman License to Trade

Nepmany: Market Kiosks

Caricature: Nepman and Wife

Caricature: Deputy Office Head and Wife (1926)

1923 Poster: Women and the New Way of Life

1924 Poster: Emancipated Woman

Culture

1. Education

2. Religion and Atheism

3. Elite Culture

4. Mass culture

Literacy Rates

Year City Village Both All

M F M F M F

1897 66 46 36 13 40 17 28

1920 81 67 52 25 58 32 44

1926 88 74 67 35 72 43 57

Likbez in Village

Likbez: Women in Uzbekistan

Likbez: Poster on Female Literacy

Confiscation of Church Valuables(1922)

Uzbek Publishing House Seal

Uzbek Film “Basmachi” (1930)

E. Conclusion

1. Myths galore: “planning”2. Rife with tensions, contraditictions3. Role of external: world revolution or “socialism in one

country”4. Demographic revolution: population growth and re-

urbanization5. Family revolution: patriarchy reasserted and

contested6. Social revolution: anti-elitism, tensions among and

between workers and peasants7. Cultural revolution: education, atheism, and elite vs.

mass culture