Nomenklatura

Moscow Kremlin and Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge late evening 01

Limusina ZiL-115 - San Petersburgo-007

Nomenklatura refers to a category of people within the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries who held various key administrative positions in the bureaucracy, running all spheres of those countries' activities. The term is Russian: номенклату́ра, derived from the Latin nomenclatura, meaning a list of names. The nomenklatura system was an essential mechanism for the Communist Party to maintain control over the state apparatus and all sectors of the economy, politics, and society. It encompassed a wide range of positions, from government officials and managers of state enterprises to heads of universities and cultural institutions.

Origins and Development

The concept of nomenklatura became a formal part of Soviet governance early in the history of the Soviet Union, though the system it described took shape gradually. Initially, it referred to lists of sensitive positions in the government and industry, along with suitable candidates for those positions, compiled and maintained by the Communist Party. Over time, the term came to describe the privileged class that occupied these positions.

The system was designed to ensure that every key position was held by someone loyal to the Party, thereby securing the Party's control over the state and society. The nomenklatura were selected through a process that involved both appointment and co-option, ensuring that they were both qualified for their positions and ideologically aligned with the Party's goals.

Mechanisms

The nomenklatura system operated through a series of lists that detailed positions of authority and influence within the state and the names of individuals approved to fill these roles. These lists were managed by the Party's Central Committee and its various departments, which had the authority to appoint, transfer, and remove officials as they saw fit.

This system of appointment and promotion created a tightly controlled hierarchy, where loyalty to the Party and its leaders was rewarded with advancement and privileges. It also facilitated a high degree of centralization of power, as the Party, through its control over the nomenklatura, effectively controlled all aspects of governance and administration.

Privileges and Lifestyle

Members of the nomenklatura enjoyed a range of privileges not available to ordinary citizens. These included access to special shops with Western goods, better housing, healthcare, and educational opportunities for their children. Such benefits reinforced their loyalty to the Party and the system, while also creating a significant gap between the nomenklatura and the general population.

Criticism and Legacy

The nomenklatura system has been widely criticized for fostering an elite class that was often seen as corrupt and self-serving. Critics argue that it led to widespread nepotism, inefficiency, and economic stagnation, as positions were filled based on loyalty rather than merit. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the term nomenklatura continued to be used, sometimes pejoratively, to describe the old elite that managed to retain power and influence in post-Soviet states.

The legacy of the nomenklatura system is complex. While it played a key role in maintaining Communist Party control over the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries, it also contributed to the systemic problems that eventually led to their decline.