Final answer:
The Soviet Union implemented a command economy and Five-Year Plans, while China instituted the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution in their efforts to create socialist societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
During their pursuit of socialist societies, both the Soviet Union and China implemented various initiatives. Two key initiatives taken by the Soviet government included the establishment of a command economy and the implementation of Five-Year Plans. The command economy allowed the state to make all economic decisions, such as what to produce and how much to produce. The Five-Year Plans set specific goals for industrial development and mobilized the entire country to work towards those goals.
In China, Mao Zedong instituted the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. The Great Leap Forward involved the collectivization of agriculture and the initiation of hundreds of industrial projects. Although it led to increased industrial capacity, it also resulted in mass famine due to mismanagement. The Cultural Revolution aimed to remove capitalist and traditional elements from society by promoting revolutionary ideology.