Following its victory in World War 2, Russia emerged as a superpower of the world.
Russia’s superpower status was based upon it having one of the strongest militaries in the world and its new geographical influence and it’s economic strength. Ultimately, Russia’s economy was the most important reason for it’s emergence as a superpower after World War 2, as this underpinned it’s military might's and allowed it to compete with America. Russia’s economy was the most important reason for it’s superpower status.Stalin had used the five year plans to turn Russia from a primarily agricultural economy into an advanced industrial economy. The developments seen during 1928-1941 laid the foundations for future economic growth within Russia. By 1941, all farms in Russia were collectivised, which allowed enough food to be produced to feed the rapidly urbanising population.
During this time, a generation of workers was trained, who following war could develop Russia’s industry further.Despite Germany’s scorched earth policy costing almost all of the progress made during the first two Five-Year Plans, the Fourth Five-Year Plan made Russia the fastest economy in the world. The focus of the Fourth and Fifth Plan was heavy industry and rearmament ensuring Russia was prepared for any future war. Ultimately, Russia’s economy was a key reason for it’s emergence as a superpower as it was well suited to military preparation and was built on a strong foundation for growth. Russia’s superpower status was also grounded on it’s military might.Indeed by 1946, Russia had the largest standing army worldwide, numbering 3 million men.
Russia was truly able to compete with its superpower rival America, as it matched the latter’s atomic bomb in 1949, going on to develop it’s own Hydrogen bomb in 1953. Moreover, Russia began developing rockets immediately after war, which could be used as missiles against America. However, Russia’s military might was based on its strong economy, as these projects were extremely expensive.Indeed, Russia’s economy allowed it to devote 7. billion roubles to defence spending in the Fourth Five Year Plan, 2 million more than it had spent in the run up to war. For these reasons, Russia’s military might was an important reason for it’s emergence as a superpower status, but it’s economy was more important as it was a prerequisite for its military might.
Russia’s geographical influence was another key reason for it’s superpower status following the end of war. By 1946, Russia had gained a sphere of influence across Eastern Europe and controlled satellite states including Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Russia controlled these states foreign and economic policy.Importantly, these states acted as a buffer zone against Russia’s capitalist enemies in the west, making Russia somewhat impregnable. Russia’s geographical influence also aided its military might as informal military alliances were formed with the satellite states, providing Russia with allies for future wars. Additionally, Russia’s geographical influence aided it’s economy, as they traded exclusively with Russia.
On balance, while Russia’s new geographical influence alone did not grant it’s superpower status, it certainly aided in doing so by giving it control over half of Europe and helping its economy and military might.In conclusion, Russia emerged as a superpower following World War 2 because of its economy, geographical influence and economy. These three factors were all linked and only together did they allow Russia to hold such this status. However it is plausible to suggest that without it’s military might or economy, Russia would not have had such a big geographical influence as this is what made Russia more powerful than. it’s satellite states. Therefore, Russia’s economy was the most important reason for its new superpower status, as it was a requirement for it’s military might.
