Collectivization of agriculture

Definition

Collectivization of agriculture refers to the policy implemented primarily in the Soviet Union during the late 1920s and 1930s, aiming to consolidate individual landholdings and labor into collective farms. This approach sought to eliminate private farming in favor of large-scale state-controlled agricultural production, which was believed to increase efficiency, productivity, and support rapid industrialization efforts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Collectivization led to widespread resistance from peasants, who were often forcibly removed from their land and had their property confiscated.
2. The process resulted in a severe decline in agricultural productivity in the early years due to mismanagement and a lack of experienced farmers on collective farms.
3. Famine, particularly the Holodomor in Ukraine, was one of the tragic consequences of collectivization, leading to millions of deaths between 1932 and 1933.
4. The policy aimed not only to increase agricultural output but also to ensure food security for urban populations involved in industrialization.
5. By the late 1930s, collectivization had largely succeeded in transforming agriculture in the Soviet Union, with over 90% of farmland being organized into collective farms.

Review Questions

• How did collectivization impact the social structure of rural communities in the Soviet Union?
  • Collectivization fundamentally altered the social structure of rural communities by breaking down traditional relationships and hierarchies. Wealthy peasants, or kulaks, were targeted for removal or punishment, which created divisions among communities. Many small landowners lost their properties and were forced into collective farms, disrupting family units and creating new power dynamics based on loyalty to the state rather than community ties.
• Evaluate the economic outcomes of collectivization on Soviet agriculture during its implementation.
  • The economic outcomes of collectivization were initially disastrous for Soviet agriculture. Agricultural productivity plummeted due to poor planning and lack of motivation among workers who no longer owned their land. This inefficiency led to significant food shortages and famines. However, over time, collectivization did facilitate increased state control over food production and distribution, which eventually contributed to the feeding of urban industrial workers and allowed for further economic planning under the Five-Year Plans.
• Assess how collectivization was linked to broader goals of industrialization in the Soviet Union and its effects on society.
  • Collectivization was closely tied to the Soviet Union's broader goals of rapid industrialization as it aimed to create a surplus of agricultural products that could support growing urban populations. By consolidating farms into collective units, the state sought to control agricultural output more effectively while channeling resources into industrial development. However, this resulted in significant human suffering, as many peasants resisted these changes or faced repression. The impact on society included mass famine, displacement, and changes in class structure, which ultimately fueled resentment toward the government and shaped future Soviet policies.

Related terms

Kolkhoz: A kolkhoz is a collective farm in the Soviet Union where multiple families worked together on shared land, pooling their resources and labor for agricultural production.

Dekulakization: Dekulakization was the campaign of political repressions against wealthy peasants (kulaks) in the Soviet Union during collectivization, often involving confiscation of land and property.

Five-Year Plans: The Five-Year Plans were a series of government plans aimed at rapid industrialization and economic development in the Soviet Union, heavily relying on the outcomes of collectivized agriculture to supply food for workers.