The coming to power of the Bolsheviks and the establishment of Soviet power led to the formation of a new ruling class, called the nomenklatura. In the USSR, the point of view prevailed, according to which the new and first socialist state in the world should decisively break with the traditions of imperial Russia. This concerned not only the social system, lifestyle, culture, but also the management system. Government bodies appeared, the names of which did not always correspond to their functions. For example, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR had legislative power, while the executive body was the Council of People's Commissars, and later the Council of Ministers.
Prerequisites for the formation of the nomenclature
In all these bodies there were positions predetermined both by their functions and by the need to resolve current affairs. In the conditions of a one-party system and the absence of intra-party democracy, appointments were made by lists, for which delegates to congresses formally voted. Thus, the nomenclature in the USSR- this is initially a list of government posts to which the party appointed seemingly suitable people. This method was first tested after the adoption of the 1924 Constitution.
In order to understand what the term "nomenklatura" meant in the USSR, it must be borne in mind that already in the early days of Soviet power, during the period of war communism, a large-scale nationalization of the means of production was carried out both in industry and in agriculture. Another important process is the beginning of the merging of the party with the state, inevitable due to the fact that other political forces have been eliminated. The reproduction of the nomenklatura was carried out not due to career growth or effective work in the post, but through the monopoly right of the party to power.
The initial stage of nomenclature registration
The institutional allocation of a special layer within the ruling elite, now known as the nomenklatura, in the USSR began with the creation in 1920 of accounting and distribution departments under the central and provincial committees of the RCP (b). Their function was the selection of personnel to fill managerial positions. Four years later, the Orgraspredotdel was created, headed by Lazar Kaganovich. The functions of the new body were the same as those of the accounting and distribution departments, however, already in the first years of its work, there was a significant disproportion in the distribution of seats: out of 8761 appointments in 1925-1927. purely party positions account for only 1222.
Decree "On Appointments"
It was adopted June 12, 1923year, and starting from that, in the history of the USSR and Russia, the nomenclature receives a legally formalized method of self-reproduction. The Decree and its extended version of November 16, 1925 provided for the replacement of leadership positions according to the lists. The first provided for appointments coming directly from the Central Committee, while the second was coordinated with the Orgraspredotdel. After some time, the first list was expanded with the category of elected positions, which were approved in specially created commissions.
Expansion of the administrative apparatus
The Soviet system of government from the very beginning of its existence showed a tendency towards bureaucratization. The number and titles of positions will soon begin to increase, so there are third lists. The nomenklatura in the history of the USSR is not only party functionaries and senior officials, but also the heads of local branches, government agencies and public organizations.
The growth of the government apparatus was so rapid that already in 1930 the organizational department was divided into two departments, the first of which was in charge of appointing only to party positions, and the second was responsible for filling positions in the public administration system, as well as in public organizations. Such a system operated until the adoption in 1946 of new nomenclature lists. In Stalin's time, a test of the qualities of a party worker and examinations for compliance with the position he occupied were also provided.
Nomenclature at the beginning of the existence of the USSR
By the beginning of Gorbachev's perestroika, the nomenklatura in the USSR had become a privileged class that concentrated significant we alth in its hands. However, at the beginning of the existence of the state, its position was less noticeable and more in line with ideas about the socialist form of government.
Economic devastation played an important role in this: the party businessman simply had nothing to own. The only thing a functionary could count on in the 1920s was an increased ration. In addition, a law was passed establishing a maximum salary for an official. The logical consequence of the revolutionary ideals was excessive demands on the image and behavior of a party member. In some cases, threats of execution by firing squad for negligence in office were carried out.
Power at the turn of the 20-30s
The New Economic Policy allowed to stabilize the situation in the country, and the permission for private cooperation envisaged by it led to an increase in the welfare of society. The struggle for power, which began after Lenin's death, was carried out largely by apparatus methods, which not only strengthened the role of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, but also his proteges, that is, the party-state nomenclature of the USSR.
However, this stage can only be considered as a start. Revolutionary ideals have not yet disappeared, many were brought up on the classical works of Marx and Engels and did not particularly strive to increase their personal material well-being. A decisive step towards this was taken with the curtailment of the NEP and the launch of the process of industrialization. This made it possible to get rid ofrationing system, and the people at the top of power took care of their own needs.
Privileges of the nomenklatura under Stalin
Litigation and the beginning of the repression required the rotation of officials. In order to increase the interest of ordinary party members in obtaining a managerial post, guarantees of a firm salary and the possibility of acquiring the necessary goods for this money were introduced. Since the shortage problem was not completely solved, special distributors arose. But in Stalin's time, not only party functionaries, but also shock workers had access to them.
Besides this, under Stalin, the nomenklatura acquired new apartments within the city, received dachas, but at the same time a number of strict internal restrictions were placed on the growth of its well-being. Some of them stemmed from the old revolutionary ideals, which forbid not only defiant luxury, but also, in principle, the presence of things that are not essential. In conditions of repression, where almost every step could be regarded as sabotage, party functionaries preferred not to tempt fate.
Growth of the privileges of the nomenclature of the USSR under Khrushchev
The curtailment of repressions, the transition from totalitarian methods of government to authoritarian ones and the democratization course set by the XX Congress of the CPSU allowed top officials not to worry about their post, and even more so about their lives. The provisions on the place and functions of officials, determined in the 1946 decree, brought certainty to their status. The growth of the influence of the nomenklatura became in Khrushchev's timesuch that she succeeded in removing the general secretary in 1964.
In material terms, the position of the nomenklatura has not improved so much. An ordinary functionary of this period had the right to an apartment, a country house, a summer house, a foreign-made car. In addition, persons belonging to the nomenklatura in the USSR could travel abroad, and before the advent of home viewing facilities, attend demonstrations of foreign films in cinemas. Of course, the scope of these privileges varied depending on the position of the functionary in the system of power: grassroots managers could only dream of spacious apartments and elite recreation.
The number of nomenklatura under Khrushchev
The number of Soviet officials during the thaw is sharply reduced. The table below shows a selection by nomenclature lists in comparison with the indicators of 1946:
| 1946 | 1954 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 |
| 42000 (100%) | 23576 (56%) | 26210 (62%) | 12645 (30%) | 14342 (34%) |
There were several reasons for this. One of them is the repressions at the final stage of Stalin's rule. Another, more significant, is the adoption in July 1953 of a resolution to reduce the size of the party nomenklatura in the USSR in order to increase the responsibility of leaders in the selection of personnel. But this explanation was formal. The real reason for such a large-scale reduction was the difficulty in controllingnomenclature and the long process of its formation.
Psychological appearance of the nomenklatura during the Brezhnev stagnation
The Soviet system reached its apogee precisely during the reign of Leonid Brezhnev. But the same period was at the same time an era of stagnation both in the economy and in the political life of the country. The formation of the party-state nomenklatura in the USSR occurs at the expense of people from peasant and working families. This was reflected in the mentality of the ruling elites. Unquestioning obedience to orders from above, inaction and shifting responsibility are associated with the origin.
By education, the then functionaries came from technical or agricultural universities or military schools. The number of professional lawyers was sharply reduced, largely because they could question and criticize the established system of governance. The commonality of views, education, the performance of similar functions, and the formation of corporate ethics make it possible to speak of the final formation of the nomenklatura as a class in the USSR. In addition, many positions in the management system are becoming hereditary.
Composition of the nomenclature
Speaking about the size of the Soviet ruling class, it must be taken into account that in addition to the traditional nomenklatura lists, there was a developed clientele. Career advancement was highly dependent on higher ranks, so the official statistics do not express the real number of functionaries.
The main characteristic of belonging to the nomenklatura was not the availability of material resources, but the amount of power available. The basis of this class was the ruling elite of Soviet society. This core was not homogeneous, but included three levels: members of the Central Committee of the CPSU, regional functionaries and district officials. By the end of the existence of the USSR, the fourth level began to form, which includes the primary party organizations. Thus, what was called the nomenklatura in the USSR was a network of party and government workers, in which everyone was connected both with their clients and with their patrons.
Decomposition of nomenclature
The lack of initiative, unquestioning adherence to orders and the ever-increasing amount of privileges contributed to the crisis within the nomenklatura. The communist ideology had less and less importance, revolutionary ideals were forgotten. Top officials were implicated in a number of criminal trials of the Brezhnev era.
At the same time, the ruling elite was not able to give an adequate assessment of the real state of affairs in the country. From this point of view, the beginning of perestroika is especially indicative: it was at the suggestion of the nomenklatura and with its support that glasnost was announced. Accustomed to monotonous reports, functionaries could not imagine that with their own hands they gave the people the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction.
The collapse of the USSR
Following glasnost, Gorbachev initiated a personnel renewal program. In a short time, about 80% of functionarieswere removed from their positions. From that moment on, we can say that the nomenklatura lost power in the USSR. However, the formalities remained. On October 15, 1989, the decision of the Central Committee was published, which clearly demonstrated the intention to completely dismantle the system of recruiting government bodies. The accounting and control nomenclature was thus abolished in the history of the USSR. However, the submission of candidates by lists and voting on them remained almost until the very end of the existence of the USSR. It was not until August 1991 that this principle was formally abolished.
The collapse of the nomenklatura was predetermined. The democratization of society, the emergence of pluralism both in the economic and political spheres put an end to the cumbersome mechanism of the party-state. A breach in the very center of the nomenklatura network put an end to the rule of party functionaries.
