ABSTRACT
Unlike the ‘traditional’ empires, the Soviet system and state government are commonly associated with the communist party although its power and influence have not always been the same. The distribution of powers among institutions in the centre determined whose agent in the periphery would be considered the main representative of Moscow, or, vice versa, there would be agents of almost equal power representing their institutions in the centre. The emergence of the political institution of second secretaries as such was associated with the desire to control nationalism in the periphery of the Soviet empire. The relationship of the second secretaries with the national culture and nationalism of the republic they had been sent to is a broad question that goes beyond the ‘governor general’s’ education, skills, or readiness to lead. The position of the ‘governor general’ and thus his ability to delve deeper into the situation in the republic was limited by the absence of an administrative team.
