ABSTRACT
The key to the understanding of the political system of state socialism is to recognise that the major goal defined by the state is that of modernisation and development. All modern polities are concerned with development in that they encourage economic growth and desire to improve general welfare. The Party plays a key role in the functioning of the political system. By virtue of its being the leading political institution it seeks to control administrative bodies by determining policy at the highest level and enforcing it at lower levels. The actual political order of each society is made up of a unique constellation of historical and social components which give each society and its political system an individual cultural character. The Bolsheviks were political activists and their ideology encouraged political participation. The regime under Stalin was a mobilisation regime par excellence.
