"Military needs were always the main reason for Russia's economic development" - To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Dhaval Shah U6NE 14/05/03
“Military needs were always the main reason for Russia’s economic development.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Within the scope of Russian history, war has been shown to a factor in determining whether the status quo was maintained, or indeed whether change rapidly occurred as a reaction to the events of the time. Throughout the 100 year period it can be said that a framework exists where Russia is involved, directly or otherwise, in either warfare or in preparations for war. Whilst it can be argued that the drive for modernisation and the aims of the state were central to developing the economy of Russia, the emphasis placed on military needs can at no stage be understated. Indeed, the key to legitimacy and consent for governments of the period derived heavily from her performance in war and her capabilities to defend her people. This essay will argue that, despite the necessity to acknowledge the importance of the modernisation of Russia and the aims of the state, military needs took precedence and determined whether economic development took place, as the position of the government of the time hinged, in effect, the success of war and also helped to shape future policy.
Throughout the 100 year period, war has served to highlight its importance in dictating not only the actions of those at the time, but also for their successors. It has been recognised that, to be successful in warfare, the economy of the time needed to be sufficiently developed in order to cope with the demands of war. However, whilst in the aftermath of the 1854-6 Crimean War Russia sought to change the infrastructure on which she based her military, and expand her communications network in order to obtain greater access to her Empire, it was not until Sergei Witte provided the “Great Spurt” from 1892 until 1903 that Russia began to develop economically to the extent that she wanted to. It can be argued that this, unlike many believe, was in response to the growing threat of Germany and potent German nationalism in the wake of German unification in 1871. Hence, this qualifies the belief that Russia now had the impetus to develop economically in order to counter the threat of her Western neighbour which had not existed to the same degree earlier on in the 19th Century.