ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the origins and basic elements of democratic centralism and its interpretation by Soviet traditionalists and their supporters. It investigates the initial attempts to surmount it, listing the arguments with which the Communist party of the Soviet Union seeks to check the erosion of this traditional organizational principle of Communist parties. Attempts at reform in a number of Communist parties have provoked discussion and controversy within the Communist party system over the character of democratic centralism as the internal organizational principle of Communist parties. The explosive effect of the modification of democratic centralism is shown by the fact that the Ninth Polish United Workers’ Party Congress witnessed a massive replacement of previous cadres in electoral and appointive positions. Democratic centralism serves among other things in Communist parties as a rampart against anarchist tendencies and spontaneous democracy at the party base.
