Soviet electrification: the roads not taken

Drawing on material presented in greater detail in his book The Electrification of Russia, 1880-1926 (1992), the author discusses the history of electrification in Russia and details the formation of the State Committee for the Electrification of Russia (GOELRO). GOELRO's plan for using a network of regional stations controlled by the Soviet government is described. A discussion on why the Soviet state favored large-scale electrification instead of alternatives that promised more immediate economic and social returns is given. GOLERO's aim to use technology to transform a backward country into a modern, Communist state is also discussed.>