Pronunciation: [kjˈʊlaks] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "kulaks" is a bit tricky as it is not pronounced the way it is spelled. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is /ˈkuːlæks/. The first syllable "ku" is pronounced as "koo" with a long "u" sound, while the second syllable "laks" is pronounced as "læks" with a short "a" sound. This word refers to wealthy peasant farmers in Russia who were considered enemies of the state during the early Soviet era.
Kulaks were a social class in the Soviet Union during the early 20th century, particularly during Joseph Stalin's regime. The term "kulak" is derived from the Russian word "kulak," which means "fist," denoting their perceived position as prosperous individuals who tightly clenched their wealth and resources. These prosperous peasants were typically landowners, farmers, or rural entrepreneurs who had managed to amass significant wealth and assets.
However, the definition of "kulaks" evolved during the Stalinist era and took on more negative connotations. The Soviet government branded the kulaks as class enemies and exploiters of the lower classes, particularly the agricultural laborers or the proletariat. Stalin implemented a policy of agricultural collectivization, aiming to eliminate the kulaks as a class and confiscate their lands and properties. Many kulaks were subjected to forceful eviction, deportation, imprisonment, or execution. This brutal campaign was known as the "dekulakization" or the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class."
The term "kulaks" has since become associated with the oppression and persecution experienced by these prosperous peasants during Stalin's rule. It represents a grim period of Soviet history characterized by collectivization, political repression, and economic upheaval. The legacy of kulaks serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of radical communist policies and the resilience of those affected by state-sponsored oppression.
The word "kulaks" originally comes from the Russian language. It is a plural noun form of the Russian word "kulak" (кулак), which means "fist" or "tight-fisted" in English. The term "kulak" was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Russia to refer to prosperous or well-off peasants, particularly those who employed hired labor.
During the Soviet era, the term "kulak" took on a different connotation. The Soviet government implemented agricultural collectivization policies to bring all farmland and agricultural production under state control. Peasants who resisted or opposed collectivization were labeled as "kulaks" and faced severe consequences, including confiscation of their land, imprisonment, or even execution. This furthered the association of the term with wealthy or counter-revolutionary peasants.
