Stalins aims for economic policies were: To increase military strength of the country to resist foreign intervention, also

to Achieve self-sufficiency in order to make USSR independent of western manufactured goods. Another one of his aims was to Increase grain supply. He Wanted to end dependence of the economy on a backward agriculture system. In the past this had created huge problems when there was bad harvest or peasants did not produce enough food. Stalins aims for Social policies were: To Improve standards of living. He wanted to catch up with the west in terms of standard of living people enjoyed, industrialization would create a wealthy society and communism should appeal to workers across the world. He Wanted to restore more conservative values of women and family. Stalins aim for Political policies was to Crush internal 'class enemies' of the kulaks and bring the countryside (and thus grain supply) under Communist control. One of Stalin's key policies to achieve his aims was Collectivisation The farms would be collectivized as peasants consisted of 80% of population. Stalin wanted land and food production under full control of the state. In 1929, collective farms were established to replace individual farms owned by the peasants. Those who disagreed or refused to go along with the policy were branded "kulaks" and were severely punished.

Another method that Stalin used to achieve his aims was Industrialization Stalin knew that the only way industrialization would be achieved was by taking full control of the resources and labor of the Soviet Union. Stalin introduced a series of Five Year Plans to achieve a "revolution from above".

The First Five Year Plan was between 1929-32. It called for a massive increase in industrial output and to create a proletariat by moving large numbers of peasants from the countryside to the cities. The Second and Third Five Year Plans shifted the production to heavy industrial goods as iron and steel plants were producing, but the country needed trains, trucks and tractors. Hitler was focusing on re-armament in Germany and many countries now opposed Communism and Soviet UnionStalin wanted to make sure they had the resources to re-arm. Industrialization would be achieved through labor discipline, slave labor and propaganda: Labour Discipline: Very harsh laws were introduced that punished workers who were late or absent and also made it a crime to break machinery, in some extreme cases these crimes were punished with execution. Propaganda: Stalin's speeches about the successes of the Five Year Plans were printed in papers and with their own eyes, workers saw that the Soviet Union was industrializing and catching up with the capitalist powers. Stalins policies could be seen as being a success and a failure from different perspectives. Collectivization From a peasants' perspective: Around 17 million peasants moved form the countryside in order to look for jobs. Somewhere between 5-10 million kulaks were sent to labor camps. This was a terrible policy for the Russian population! Now From Stalin's perspective Collectivization was a failure in the sense that it led to the decline of both harvest and yield. By 1934, 50% of all livestock had been slaughtered by the peasants themselves as they rather slaughter than surrender it to the state However, it did allow Stalin to pursue class warfare and crush what he saw as internal enemies; kulaks. Stalin finally secured the grain supply needed for industrialization and managed to export for finance.

Now Industrialization From worker's perspective: Focusing on heavy industry and arms meant that workers lacked basic consumer goods such as clothes and shoes. This left the Soviet economy unbalanced. The drive for rapid industry led to awful social conditions for the workerssafety was neglected and low wages and tough discipline. Wages fell by 50% in the 5 years after 1928 Workers did benefit from increase in education and training due to the need of a skilled workforce but this created a new industrial elite in Soviet with higher wages and extra benefit- directly contrasted Communist desire for equality! Now for industrialization From Stalin's perspective: In 1928-41 there was a 400% increase in steel and 600% in coal. The best proof of economic success was the Soviet Unions ability to defend itself against Nazi Germany in the "total war" of 4 years.