Was NEP the reason for the survival of the soviet regime

• Introduction

  -Somewhat accurate, cheka more significant

  -During period 1917-28, civil war and death of Lenin caused turmoil

  -Survival means sustaining soviet power

  -Criteria: effectively and consistently used

  -Cheka, NEP, Cult of Personality
• Cheka

  -Cheka founded in 1917 to crush opposition and torture opponents, closed down constituent assembly in Jan 1918

  -During civil war, cheka used to consolidate control in Bolshevik controlled areas

  -After war cheka became GPU, used for surveillance

  -Cheka used for maintaing soviet rule, whether by torture and murder or surveillance

  -Consistent and effective
• NEP

  -Introduced 1921, small factories of 20 people or less privatised , money reintroduced and agriculture back to free market, avoid counterrevolution

  -Ended requisitioning, farmers were happier, grain production increased 33.7% in first year, less radical policies kept ordinary people on board with the new regime

  -Nepmen got rich selling desirable goods and became new middle class which although caused inequality, kept non workers in cities happy

  -Consistent but only somewhat effective
• Cult of Personality

  -First picture of Lenin published in 1918, wore a cap, man of the people, rejected luxury made him likable

  -When assassination attempt happened in 1918, his survival portrayed as a miracle

  -Cult made in a trusted and liked figure by the public, this meant the continuation of communist rule as the cult minimised opposition

  -Fact that assassination attempt happened shows failure of cult too

  -Consistent but only partially effective