Question by : What industry did the Soviet Union apply to the Eastern Bloc? And effects?
I know Czechoslovakia was told to focus on heavy industry in its initial 5 year plans. What were other countries told to do? And what environmental effects did this have on the countries? I remember reading an article about the “dirty triangle” that focused on pollution from industry in Czechoslovakia, Poland and East Germany after the Iron Curtain came down, but I’m curious as to what else was brought to attention in the post Soviet years. Thank you!
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Answer by I Name, I Write, I Listen
Most Communist states were told to focus on heavy industry and technology to improve the economy and aim to get ahead in the Arms Race against the USA.
The effect of this was that consumer goods suffered, therefore there was very little to buy, prices were high and quality was low.
Also, the emphasis on nuclear weapons in the Ukraine led to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, which had devastating effects still seen today
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Spellbound says
Soviet ideology was a product of the 19th Century. As such it was in awe of the Industrial Revolution, and with the industries that founded it – coal, iron, steel and ship-building. Later industries such as the chemical, oil and petrochemical industries were similarly favoured.
They did not so much impose industry on Eastern Europe, as imposed their ideologically based economic system on Eastern Europe. Light industry was not invested in to any great degree, except in Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Hungary, and even then it was still starved of investment when compared to heavy industry.
The impact of industry under communism was a complete lack of environmental concern. In the post-Communist years some countries were more equipped, able and prepared to clean up their industries. Czechoslovakia, Hungary and East Germany (or, post 1989, the East of Germany) benefited from memories of democratic traditions, from EU grants and from massive inward investment by other European countries and companies, seeking cheap labour, raw materials and a skilled workforce. Czech industry benefited enormously, as VW took part ownership of Skoda and their light industrial base once again found investment and markets.