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Date Posted: 00:20:38 05/28/03 Wed
Author: Mr John D Clare
Subject: Looking at what a question is REALLY asking
In reply to: 's message, "Russia" on 20:48:40 05/27/03 Tue

Did you copy this question down incorrectly - I can imagine a question: 'Was the failure (or problems or inadequacies) of war communism the reason that Lenin introduced the NEP?' but the question as it it is doesn't make much sense.
I am assuming that you mean: 'Was the failure of war communism the reason that Lenin introduced the NEP?'

You get a lot of questions like this one.
What is it really about?
It's not about the failings of war communism.
It's not even solely about how/whether the failings of war communism caused the NEP.

It's always a good idea to look at the end of a question and ask yourself what is it really asking.

This one is a different way of asking: Why did Lenin introduce the NEP? It is giving you one reason (war communism) and asking you to weigh it against the others.

SO your answer is the same as for ALL 'debate' essays:

You start by saying that, yes, in some ways war communism might be said to have led to the NEP. For ideas of things to say, you could look at the question on Archive 1 that I have already answered: Why was there opposition to war communism? (<a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.voy.com/121869/1/320.html)">http://www.voy.com/121869/1/320.html)</a>

Then you need to say: HOWEVER (really important word) there were other reasons that Lenin introduced the NEP.
You would explain reasons such as:
- The shock of the Kronstadt mutiny
- The need to increase production
- The defeat of the old Bolsheviks who wanted extreme communism on principle by the realists who wanted to stay in power.
(see <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.johndclare.net/Russ8.htm)">http://www.johndclare.net/Russ8.htm)</a>

Then you finish with a paragraph which weighs the impact of war communism against the collective influences of all the other factors put together, and comes to a conclusion..
In fact Lenin and many Bolsheviks actually preferred the extreme communist principles of war communism AND WOULD HAVE KEPT IT - except that they were about to lose power and they needed to curry favour with the Russian people.
So my answer would finish: No. Lenin's decision to introduce the NEP was nothing to do with what he thought about war communism, and everything to do about hanging onto power at the cost of his principles.

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