There were in fact three Five Year Plans, first starting in October 1928. Stalin saw these as essential for Russia's development and rice as world power. The main focus of all three Five Year Plans was economic, with a specific emphasis on heavy industries such as coal, oil and iron production. However, the impact of the plans was great not just economically, but also politically and socially. This essay will discuss the effect they have had on the lives of citizens of Soviet Union.

Firstly, although the Five Year Plans had economic aims, propaganda that went along with them did endeavour to transform the society. There was an attempt to create this "new man", Homo Sovieticus. This new soviet man was to value hard work, despise greed and belong to new, glorious socialist society which would...