FREE MARKET IN RUSSIA DURING THE CIVIL WAR (1917-1921): CONCEPT DEFINITION ISSUES
In the context of war and famine 1917-1921 food aid of Soviet government could not meet the needs of the population to the fullest. People were forced to seek alternative sources of supply. Market trading played a huge role. In the domestic historiography, there are various approaches to assessing the status of the market during the Civil War. More often than not the opinion is expressed that market trade was illegal. Diversity of goods entering the market allows us to conclude that the illegal trade and allowed trade went hand in hand. Hence such a phenomenon of the Soviet power’s first years as the free market, which consisted of legal trade in goods permitted and prohibited transactions. The status of the free market was constantly changing under the influence of public policy. Due to uncertainty, market trading had different forms. Factors stated and various others designate the unique nature of the free market during the Russian Civil War. Bibliogr. 36 names.