ABSTRACT
The Bolsheviks came to power as a political force, promising not only to impiement socialist ideals attractive to a significant part of the population, but also to reestablish order in a country seized by anarchy after the February Revolution. The Bolsheviks considered the soviets to be the highest achievement in democracy since they combined legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the same body elected by co-workers. The changes in the administrative-territorial and governing structures of Soviet power did not affect the essence of social and economic life in the regions, for local bodies continued to be completely subordinated to local party committees and the center. The elections of local authorities and national bodies were completely bogus, as they had been since the early 1920s. The administrative-territorial division of the new state was also subordinated to the aims of the most effective party leadership of Soviet government.
