Structure of government

One party state

• At first, the new regime described itself as a ‘soviet-state’; however, during the Civil War the government increasingly became a party-state, based on the Communist Party.

• Civil war meant that the new government had to act quickly to achieve victory.

• Consequently, Lenin tended to rely on the Politburo.

• Lenin preferred working with the Politburo to Sovnarkom as it was smaller – 5 to 7.

  • Therefore could reach decisions much quicker.

  • He preferred working with the Politburo because it contained his most loyal supporters, people like Stalin, Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev.

• Lenin did not abolish the Sovnarkom.

  • It simply ceased to function as the main centre of government.

• From 1920, the Politburo effectively became the government of Russia.

  • Politburo clearly provided clear and effective leadership during the Civil War.

  • The rise of the Politburo indicated that the new government was based on the Communist Party rather than the soviets.

• This pattern of Communist Party dominance also emerged at a local level.

• Senior Communists preferred to work through the Communist Party, which had branches all over the country.

• They did not trust the local soviets, as SRs and Mensheviks were still present on many of them.

• Soviets were often bypassed in favour of the communist nomenklatura.

• Party members who senior official trusted to implement government policy without question.

• By 1921, the new government was based on two parallel structures:

  • Communist Party and the soviet-state.

• As the Civil War continued and other political parties were increasingly excluded from the government, the soviet-state lost power to the Communist Party.

• Due to increasing Party dominance, the new form of government became known as the “party-state”.

Democratic centralism

• System by which Soviet Union governed. Highly centralised system with elections to lower soviets to congress , one party candidates. Lenin’s idea of open discussion within the party& central control, ensuring party unity

Sovnarkom

• Lenin Chairman of Govt, otherwise known as ‘Sovnarkom’ -Council of people’s commissars

• Founded soon after Oct Revolution and formalised under 1918 Constitution.

• 13 peoples commissars, e.g Alexandra Kollontai - commissar for social welfare

Politburo- centralisation of power

• Key decision making body - party (CPSU) and ideas passed to state for implementation

• 7-10 members - Lenin, Trotsky (Commissar for foreign affairs then war), Zinoviev( Leningrad party leader), Kamenev( Moscow party leader) , Stalin

Nomenklatura/ bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy- state became little more than an organisation of administrators after party becomes more in control of decision making. State mirrors structure of party. Increasing infrequency of meetings of Congress of soviets, central executive committee and Sovnarkom

• Nomenklatura- Category of people holding key administrative positions across many areas and state industries. Always had to be granted approval from party- almost all communist party members. Stalin later built on patronage system.