The term, when used in the context of AP World History, refers to the process of consolidating or merging individual landholdings and other resources into collectively owned and managed enterprises. This often involved the state taking control of private property, particularly agricultural land, and organizing it into large collective farms. A prime historical example is the implementation of this policy in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin in the 1920s and 1930s.
The significance of this process stems from its far-reaching social, economic, and political consequences. It was often implemented as a means to increase agricultural output, modernize farming techniques, and consolidate political power in the hands of the state. However, in many instances, it resulted in decreased productivity, widespread famine, and significant social upheaval due to resistance from farmers unwilling to relinquish their land and traditional ways of life. Its implementation represents a key example of state-directed economic and social engineering in the 20th century and its potential pitfalls.
