Changes within the Soviet Regime essays

Changes within the Soviet Regime essays Changes within the Iron Curtain of Soviet Russia varied greatly based on the individual in power. Stalin represented a conservative and nationalist regime, which was later de-Stalinized by Nikkita Khrushchev. Yet this change was also reversed in some ways when Loenid Brezhnev took power and began the move to industrialization once again. Along with periods of relative nuclear peace, Brezhnev also planted the seeds of tension in Afghanistan where it continues to fester even today. As the 1920s dwindled, Stalin began implementing a complete socialist renovation within the borders of the Soviet Union. He manipulated party politics to eliminate his rivals and placed himself in ultimate power. During his First Five-Year Plan, Stalin began to quickly industrialize the lagging Russian country side. He also centralized the nations economy and nationalized small businesses and industries, (U.S. Library of Congress, 1989). Stalin also manipulated the unions within the labor forces to become more of a machine which increased the amount of work done by each individual worker. Poor farmers had their land seized and allocated them into collected farms controlled by the state. This brought back the painful memories of the long held Russian era of serfdom, and really proved not much different. In fact, Stalin even destroyed the wealthiest peasants, the kulaks, in order to prevent an uprising, (U.S. Library of Congress, 1989). Later, Stalin implemented his Second Fi ve-Year Plan which placed greater attention to manufacturing consumer goods to strengthen the economy. However, much effort went to strengthening industrialization and building a super army which would later be respected and feared around the globe-all at the expense of his own people. Stalins foreign policies echoed the terror and iron-clad cruelty of his domestic policies. In fact, many researchers believe that Stalin over exaggerated the Soviet&...