Introduction of comparative politic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Introduction of comparative politic - Essay Example The central achievement of the Bolsheviks headed by Lenin in the first three years following the Revolution, was the establishment of the NEP. The New Economic Policy was a established for the purposes of providing a certain amount of freedom of trade in agrarian products, and which had the further proviso of allowing personal ownership of land, and also, the private entrepreneurship in both industry and in commerce 1[1]. And, in keeping with the notion that socialism or communism must be a gradual transformation, Lenin kept in the foreground of his policies the idea that the proletariat had not yet fully undergone the effects of industrialization2[2], as had their German and English counterparts in Western Europe. But, this notion that Russia or the Soviet Union was in a state of flux, or a state of 'between' Marx's central phases of economic development, came a number of troubling problems, faced not solely by Lenin, but also by his Bolshevik allies, comrades, or peers. For example , there was a struggle as to what extent it was possible in the Soviet Union, where a large number of distinct nationalities existed, to create and in turn maintain a strong central government? The questions of national unity were both raised at the theoretical level among the Bolsheviks, but prompted and coincidental with the actual affairs and events in the Soviet Union in these early years, and as well, to what extent would the trade unions who were already socialist in scope, be given autonomy from the central government, and from the Communist Party itself?3[3] In the very midst of the chaos of the First World War during the time of the Revolution, the Bolsheviks created an administrative structure facilitating the 'Red Army' under Leon Trotsky4[4], which in turn, was a force of troops more successful than the forces which had existed under the Tsar5[5]. Thus, what ensued was a form of terror which was enhanced by the conscription of men, property, as well as a re-direction of labour, food levies, and the imposition of wages paid in kind when there was a currency crisis -- that is, a complete loss of value of their currency 6[6]. In many respects, the measures of 'war communism' had a tyrannical effect, but this was coincidental with the fact that it was also successful in pulling the country together to some extent. The reforming or progressive side of communism, can be said to have ended with the early leadership of Lenin, such as it is lasted until March of 1921[7]7. Part of this restructuring, was the establishment of the NEP, and as mentioned in the above with regard to these policies, the effects were such that within a year or two, three quarters of the country's retail trade lay within private hands. This prompted a phase where the tolerance of dissension was generally and gradually eliminated. And, in turn, the restructuring program of this phase created two new hierarchies, namely the All Russian Congress and the council of People's Commissars 8 [8]. The effect of greater organization, both in terms of the structure as well as the sheer numbers of members which were increasing, was the net silencing of opposition. As the nature and essence of market style capitalism dictates, the survival of this system rests on expansion. In other words, expansion must (historically and in contemporary terms) must find new markets