Russian Famines

Research Paper # 99745

Economics > Globalization
History > European - 20th Century
History > Russian

Russian Famines

This paper explores the different world reactions to the Russian famines of 1921 and 1931.

2,669 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2006 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Russian famines of 1921 and 1931 and explores why the famine of 1921 received massive world wide assistance while the one in 1931 did not. The paper looks at "Harvest of Sorrow" by Robert Conquest who maintains that the famine was a deliberate strategy of Stalin in order to gain control over the farmers. The paper then looks at R.W. Davies and Stephen Wheatcroft's "The Years of Hunger" where the authors claim that it was embarrassing for Stalin to admit that his agricultural plan was failing. The paper concludes therefore, that Stalin's inability to seek aid in 1931 was either because of his pride or because he designed his agricultural program with famine as its specific result.

From the Paper:

"Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest does have an anti-communist tone throughout the book. Conquest listed the Ukrainian famine of 1931-1933 as intentional, caused by Stalin as a way of dealing with the rebellious province of Ukraine, and to shift the Soviet Union to a path if intense industrialization . Robert Conquest's primary focus throughout the book is that the famine should not simply be seen as a tragedy, but as an avoidable situation brought about by Stalin. Famine as a tactic of control was discovered by Stalin, by accident according to Robert Conquest, in how they dealt with Kazakhstan . Stalin and his cronies denied the existence of any famine within the borders of the Soviet Union; whether out of pride or malice this denied his people the ability to call for aid for the outside world."

Sample of Sources Used:

Davies, R.W. and Wheatcroft, Stephen G.; The Years of Hunger: Soviet Agriculture, 1931-1933 (2004); Pallgrave MacMillan, New York, NY
Conquest, Robet; Harvest of Sorrow (1987); Oxford University Press
Volkogonov, Dmitri; Lenin: A New Biography (2006); Free Press
Duranty, Walter; Russian Emigres Push Fight on Reds, The New York Times,August 12, 1933
Duranty, Walter; Russia Hungry but not Starving ; The New York Times, June 19, 1931