Stakhanovism and the Politics of Productivity in the USSR, 1935 1941

Focusing on the Stakhanovite movement, this study examines a pivotal moment in Soviet history marked by Alexi Stakhanov's remarkable coal mining achievement in 1935. It highlights how this movement symbolized the state's push for enhanced worker productivity and reflects broader social relations within Soviet industry during a transformative period. The analysis reveals a significant shift in official priorities, moving from merely increasing labor inputs to emphasizing the intensive use of both capital and labor in production processes.