Communist+Russia+vs.+Mercantilistic+France


 * Taryn Kilgore**

Prompt: "Compare the economic roles of the state under seventh-century mercantilism and twentieth-century communism. Illustrate your answer with reference to the economic system of France during Louis XIV's reign under Colbert and of the Soviet Union under Stalin.

Thesis: Both in Communist Russia and monarchial France, the state intervened in the economy, but the two regimes had very different economic outcomes because of their different economic policies.

Topics:
 * How Communism affected economy; affect on economy in long- and short-term; opinion of different social classes (government, rich, middle-class, workers, peasants (kulaks and regular); affect of various wars - effectiveness of economy during and after the war
 * How Mercantilism affected economy; affect on economy in long- and short-term; opinion of different social classes (aristocracy, middle-class, peasants); affect of various wars - effectiveness of economy during and after the war
 * Direct comparison of the two economy policies - in long-term/in historical reflection: the total impact on the people

CD's France: Russia/Soviet Union:
 * Mercantilism
 * King Louis XIV (France)
 * Colbert
 * Government interference
 * Tariffs
 * Laissez-Faire (not employed)
 * Improve quality of French Goods
 * Increase Exports
 * Decrease Imports
 * Try to boost economy, not work (France)
 * Louis XIV = control economy
 * Led to Revolution eventually
 * Louis XIV loves war
 * Effect of costly wars on country
 * Communism
 * Tzars
 * Bolsheviks
 * Stalin
 * Government interference
 * Collectivization
 * Requisitioning
 * Stalin = control everything
 * Led to revolution eventually
 * Use of labor camps
 * Favor workers over "peasants"
 * Effect of many wars on country
 * Five Year Plans
 * Variations of New Economic Policy