ABSTRACT
In 1920, V. I. Lenin wrote a brief description of the Soviet political system for the benefit of foreigners. During one period in Soviet history the oligarchical structure was replaced by an autocratic structure, and the system was ruled by a dictator, Josif Stalin. Stalin was one of the original oligarchs in Lenin's government. Lenin's vision must be understood because in his mind it justified the policies that he followed as head of the Soviet government. Soviet politics is bureaucratic politics. This basic fact has two important consequences for the student of Soviet society. First, political decisions are made in closed rooms by people acting on bureaucratic advice, and much of the discussion and conflict around these decisions does not become public. Second, an understanding of the bureaucracy is essential to an understanding of the political process in the USSR because the bureaucracy, not elected bodies like the USSR Supreme Soviet, is influential.
