How Did Ideology Play The Dominant Part In Deciding Economic Policy In The Years 1929-1941

To what extent did ideology play the dominant part in deciding economic policy in the years 1929-1941?

Stalin’s economic policies in the 1929-1941 were characterised by some aspects of Marxist ideology and Leninism, but more importantly, the theory of ‘Socialism in One Country’. However, through the consideration of the drive for industrialisation, the aims of collectivisation, as well as the impacts of such economic policies on workers and the state – bureaucratisation – it may be argued that pragmatism and the pursuit of autocracy were more important in deciding Stalin’s policies. While on surface level, the command economy and the drive for industrialisation seemed to fulfil the ideological goal of Socialism in One Country through modernisation, the impact of

Industrialisation was key to Stalin’s goal of modernising the Soviet economy to continue the aims of the revolution in 1917. In the first Five Year Plan, Stalin aimed for a 20% growth overall, supported by the belief that Russia must catch up to the Western nations in terms of industrialisation – “either we do this, or they will crush us”. Clearly, the sentiment of ideology is strong here – Stalin seems to fully embrace the theory of Socialism in One Country by advocating for national communism. However, this proved to be controversial, as Lenin, whom Stalin attributes Socialism to One Country to, wanted to build a “Revolution from below”, with change driven by the masses, rather than “Revolution from above”, as demonstrated by Stalin’s fervent economic