The NEP, abbreviation for the ‘New Economic Policy’, was a number of policies deployed by Vladimir Lenin to improve the conditions of post war USSR. The NEP replaced the system of War Communism which was used between 1918 and 1921. The main motive for the War Communism policy was to support and supply the Red Army with food and weapons during the Russian Civil War.
However, after the war the country was in turmoil and the majority of the Soviet Union’s population suffered hardship and poverty. This was when a quick solution was needed to revamp the Russian economy and the NEP policies were the solution.The NEP was made to balance the needs of the well of and the poor. The NEP allowed small business to prosper and make money which seemed popular to the peasants.
It had also created more stability within the country in the economical sector but all these successes did not last. The NEP, having links and similarities between Capitalist and Communist ideas, were opposed by the Communists between the Bolsheviks themselves. This was because they believed the NEP wasn’t totally Communist policy which aggravated some members of the Communist party.They were also worried that a conflict of interest would cause splits between the parties would only be inflicting damage to themselves. Many Bolsheviks resigned mainly because the NEP was a massive withdrawal from the previous policy which was based on pure Communist ideology. The NEP gave the peasants more freedom by allowing them to gain their own profits through their private ownership.
Another reason for the unpopularity of the NEP was the part it played in the agricultural sector of USSR.Agriculture was needed to boost the economy of the country and is one of the most important sources of income. The NEP rule does not allow agriculture being played to its potential. It does not provide sufficient support to transform USSR into an industrial powerhouse in Europe. Peasants and farmers in the USSR were using agricultural methods that were obsolete and very basic.
Other European countries used much more modernised equipments. However, the NEP does not encourage this modernisation which could in fact dramatically improve the country’s economy.Grain export was the most important source for their agriculture yet the exports were three fourth lower than it was a decade ago. This left the Russian economy to be far behind in modernisation than any other European countries. Modernisation was pivotal as it can enhance a country’s strength in many ways.
Most importantly, it would help support Russia’s military at a time where an invasion to any European country could be foreseen. The Communists were afraid of this, since they were prone to any invasion with their weapons being out of date.The Communists felt they should be a major industrialization powerhouse against other European rivals such as Germany however the NEP would make the country even more vulnerable. Moreover, peasant realised feeding themselves is more important than buying insignificant consumer goods. So, they held grain for themselves and the grain export seems to have been abandoned. A system scale of individual peasant farming under the NEP couldn’t support plans for industrialisation and the Communists were out of favour for this plan and so, the current NEP policy needs to be replaced by a more vigorous and rapid one.
Developing the Russian economy would further be significant as there was an increase in unemployment. The idleness was looked down upon by the Communists as they felt it would be better if they followed Totalitarian. In conclusion, the Communists were unfavourable towards the NEP because it did not comply with the Communist ideology. It was a backdrop from a policy which was completely Communist(War Communism).
However, some Communists believed the NEP was set out as a drastic measure to help the economy. It was only for a short amount of time until they can restore everything in order.
