How strong had the Russian economy become by 1914

1
How strong had the Russian economy become by 1914?
2
(No Transcript)
3
What were the key issues facing the Russian
economy in the late 19th Century?

• Not industrialised
• Agriculture undeveloped
• Conservative forces and interests a barrier
• Political inertia
• What would be the consequences of the status quo?
• So who offered a way forward?

4
The Great Spurt

• Period of industrial growth
• Created by increase in coal production in the
  Ukraine
• Tsar wanted industry to support a developing
  armed forces
• Role of Sergei Witte

5
Witte approach

• Role of foreign capital/investment
• State capitalism
• Truly independent
• Large loans and investments
• Tariffs protected Russian industry
• Russian currency put on the gold standard.
• Gain the respect of other economies
• Prices did rise for the average consumer

6
Transport

• Modernisation depended on the railways Why?
• Massive increase in railway production
• Trans-Siberian Railway 3750 miles
• Migration of workers
• Promised more than it delivered

7
The statistics

• Increase in foreign trade
• Production figures increased
• Per capita production not as good
• Population growth
• Starting from a low base

8
Assessment

• Too dependent on foreign loans
• Agricultural needs ignored
• Witte did achieve much despite the meddling of
  the army and Tsar
• If given more time, his policies may have been
  more successful
• World recession 1900s
• Workers did not really benefit from his policies
• TASK Summary document

9
Stolypin agricultural reforms

• Recognised that peasantry was burdened by
  redemption payments from 1861
• They wanted more land and relief from state of
  indebtedness
• Proposed transferring land from collective to
  individual ownership
• Reduce the authority of the Mir

10

• Wanted to create class of prosperous independent
  peasants
• Land would be separated form the collective to
  the individual
• This would allow peasants to become more
  progressive in their farming methods
• Land would transfer form the less prosperous to
  the more prosperous farmers
• These farmers would migrate to Siberia and other
  undeveloped areas
• Land Bank was set up to promote this

11
Assessment of Stolypins policies

• Did reduce Mirs authority as peasants could
  leave the village
• Redemption payments were ended in 1907
• Land transfer rates shot up
• Colonisation of Siberia produced livestock and
  crop returns
• Farming methods begun to improve

12
However.

• Land transfer had slowed by 1914. Indicated that
  peasants liked the security of the Mir
• Strip farming still dominated.
• Underlying issued unresolved
• Peasant riots indicated that all was not well
• TASK Summary document

13
How strong was the economy by 1914?

• Russia was in the process of developing into a
  modern economy Impressive figures
• Russia was still a backward country, 80 based on
  agriculture and land
• Too may ifs and buts Alec Nove
• 1917.