To what extent did Lenin's NEP solve the problems caused by war communism, before his death in 1924?

The first 200 words of this essay...

14 October 2005

History seminar

Girum Zerihun

To what extent did Lenin's NEP solve the problems caused by war communism, before his death in 1924?

Subsequent to the Bolshevik revolution in October 1917 commenced a two year domesticated war in Russia between the newly empowered Communist establishment and the conservative military officers. The primary victims were peasants, affected mostly from the exorbitant demands of food supplies and other essential necessities. The communist and despotic techniques practiced by the Bolsheviks during the war were hence dubbed "war communism" and had considerably alienated the mass of the Russian populace against its communist policies. Thus the regime was forced to restrain its callous inclinations and accordingly abandon "war communism". Moreover V.I Lenin introduced the "New Economic Policy" in which capitalism and entrepreneurship was maintained, consequently restoring economic, social and agricultural production to pre-revolution levels.

The Bolsheviks had inherited stern economic tribulations in 1917. In theory, the October revolution had instigated the triumph of mutual socialism over capitalism, but theory was of minute assistance in the overwhelming economic conditions of 1917 (Michael Lynch 123). Commencing the Bolshevik consolidation of power, Lenin made apparent his dislike for capitalism,