Stakhanovism

I know that everyone is probably sick of discussing Soviet Russia, but I think the concept ot Stakhanovism is very interesting. In the 1920s, the Bolshevik party had already began to design a cult of the worker. Soviet propaganda posters and novels (also aimed at indoctrination through the promotion of literacy) such as Cement by Fyodor Gladkov ennobled the common worker. An entire movement of art was designed and promoted by the intelligentsia to help progress the notion of the soviet worker (soviet realism). But, what motives inspired Stalin to endorse the Stkahanovite movement, and was it beneficial to the Soviet economy and communist doctrine in general?

Several motives spurred the Stakhanovite movement. There were growing labor and production shortages within the Soviet Union. Stalin desired to industrialize at a more rapid rate to gain equal standing with other world powers, and arguably more importantly, he saw increased militarization of both western (Germany) and eastern (Japan) powers (both of which had engaged Russian in conflict within the past thirty years). Increased productivity of all industries would be needed during a war effort. Stalin could have also seen the Stakhanovite movement as a strengthening of the cult of the common worker initiated by Lenin in the 1920s.

In practice, Stakhanovism was, for the most part, ineffective. Local industries were unable to supply adequate materials for factories despite mandates from above, bottle-necking invovled with distribution occurred, and quotas set to high were often unattainable. But, was Stakhanovism concurrent with Leninist doctrine (by this time Stalin had already created the cult of Lenin in Soviet society)? On the positive side, workers were now able to openly criticize supervisors, and Stakhanovites often advocated the betterment of all workers with their statements and opinions, but increases in wages brought about tensions within the strata of workers. It can be argued that the glorification of the Stakhanovites set up a class within an allegedly classless society. Thurston would disagree with this claim (with merit), but even if it did not create a class of elite workers, it did ignite distinctions between existing classes of workers.

In all industries, there were tiers of workers. The common, uneducated workers were now at a position to make demands and criticize their superiors (foremen, managers, engineers, etc.) By increasing the pay and influence of some elite workers (sometimes to the point where their bonuses exceeded the salaries of superiors) the Stakhanovite movement alientated tiers within the working class. It can be argued that Lenin would have allowed this (the NEP provided incentives for farmers in the rural areas), but if he did allow this, it would have been with great reluctance (as it was with the NEP incentives). I believe that the Stakhanovite movement veered greatly (though greatly disguised) from communist doctrine. While reflecting this, could the movement have been a ploy to initiate and continue Stalin's purges?