Quote Originally Posted by Philipvs Vallindervs Calicvla View Post
People talk about the industrialisation of Soviet States whilst neglecting the fact that this industrialisation, as rapid as it was, did not translate into comparably improved living standards vs the West. Put simply, Soviet industrialisation was done poorly and with less care or basic humanity even than the industrialisation that produce Britain's "Satanic Mills".

In fact, I would argue that Industrialisation of Soviet States was inevitable and was probably as likely under the Tsar as Stalin, and the Tsar was a far more relaxed and benevolent ruler - which is really saying something.
The first paragraph is marvelously ahistorical. British industrialisation was built on the foundation of empire, conquest, slavery and brutal urbanisation over the space of 100 years or more.

Russian industrialisation was inevitable? I have no idea how you could substantiate that.