Define Russian collectivisation during the Russian revolution

Answer 1

Russian collectivization refers to the state-led policy implemented by the Soviet government between 1928 and 1940, aimed at transforming small-scale individual and family farms into large collective agricultural enterprises. The policy was part of the broader process of industrialization and socialist transformation of the Soviet economy under Joseph Stalin.

Collectivization involved the consolidation of individual farms into collectively owned and managed entities called collective farms or kolkhozes. These collectives were typically made up of several households pooling their land, livestock, and equipment together. They were run by elected committees and supervised by the state.

The primary objectives of collectivization were to increase agricultural productivity, modernize the rural economy, and create a surplus of agricultural products to fund industrialization. It was also seen as a way to eliminate the social class of wealthy individual farmers, known as kulaks, who were seen as exploiters by the Soviet government.

The process of collectivization was often met with strong resistance, particularly from the kulaks. They resisted giving up their individual land and property, leading to forcible requisitions and widespread grain confiscation by the state. This led to the "dekulakization" campaign, where many kulaks were arrested, deported, or executed.

The implementation of collectivization was marked by violence, forced labor, and widespread human suffering. Many peasants and farmers resisted collectivization by killing their livestock, burning their crops, or even sabotaging machinery. As a result, agricultural production decreased sharply, leading to widespread famine in certain regions, most notably the Ukrainian Holodomor.

While collectivization did ultimately result in the consolidation of agriculture and the transformation of the rural economy, its overall impact was highly controversial. It disrupted traditional rural lifestyles, led to the loss of private property and independence, and caused immense human suffering. Some economists argue that collectivization led to increased agricultural output, but others point to the long-term negative effects on productivity and efficiency.