Episode Summary: In this episode of Explaining History , Nick delves into the critical years of 1928-1929, exploring the mindset of the Soviet leadership on the eve of the Great Famine. Drawing from Robert Conquest’s seminal work The Harvest of Sorrow , we examine how Stalin’s paranoia and Marxist-Leninist ideology filtered his understanding of the peasantry. Why did the Bolsheviks view grain reserves as evidence of a "Kulak war" against the state? How did faulty statistics and a fundamental misunderstanding of village life lead to catastrophic policy decisions? We unpack the tragic logic of collectivization—a "second revolution" that was essentially a continuation of the Civil War by other means. Plus: A special announcement for history students studying the Russian Revolution and Stalinism—don't miss details about our upcoming live masterclass in January! Key Topics: The Grain Procurement Crisis: Why grain exports ceased by 1928. The Myth of the Kulak: How hedging against famine was misinterpreted as capitalist speculation. Statistical Failure: How bad data fueled bad policy. The Second Revolution: Stalin’s view of collectivization as a class war. Books Mentioned: The Harvest of Sorrow by Robert Conquest Everyday Stalinism by Sheila Fitzpatrick For the complete recordings on AQA Russia Revolution and Dictatorship see the links below: https://explaininghistory.org/2025/02/19/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-15/ https://explaininghistory.org/2025/01/29/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-14/ https://explaininghistory.org/2025/01/23/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-13/ https://explaininghistory.org/2024/12/18/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-12/ AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 11 AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 Part Ten AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 9 AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 8 AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 7 AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 6 https://explaininghistory.org/2024/10/23/aqa-revolution-and-dictatorship-russia-1917-53-part-5/ AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 4 AQA Revolution and Dictatorship: Russia 1917-53 part 3 Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share. ▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive Content Become a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory ▸ Join the Community & Continue the Conversation Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcast Substack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com ▸ Read Articles & Go Deeper Website: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
