In general it's more complicated and there are many misconceptions here. About the economic leaps, you can take a look at the USSR, which holds the growth record etc. The country started off in the mud just to end up in space a couple of decades later, while simultaneously fighting off invasions launched by the most industrialized countries of the world. The economic policy was a huge success. The policies of the USSR were different from time to time. In the end you had more opportunists and careerists than socialists at the top. These had an interest in abolishing socialism and in appointing themselves as the new capitalists in the free market Russia. The people of most USSR republics never wanted the union to be abolished, and most people still regard their version of socialism positively. Especially now with the hands on experience with capitalism.
