There were never any other plan. Leo Trotsky, for example, wrote that Soviet state should exploit its workers to attain its socialist goals, with hopes that at

There were never any other plan. Leo Trotsky, for example, wrote that Soviet state should exploit its workers to attain its socialist goals, with hopes that at some point things would go sufficiently well that they will no longer feel exploited. If it never happens, too bad. Stalin forced him away but he never had any other policy. Fast forward to 1990, nobody wanted to be a part of Soviet state to lift a finger to keep it whole. And we're talking high ranking officials, army and state security here.