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Soviet Union [USSR] NOMENKLATURA
The nomenklatura referred to the CPSU's authority to
make appointments to key positions throughout the governmental
system, as well as throughout the party's own hierarchy.
Specifically, the nomenklatura consisted of two separate
lists: one was for key positions, appointments to which were made
by authorities within the party; the other was for persons who were
potential candidates for appointment to those positions. The
Politburo, as part of its nomenklatura authority, maintained
a list of ministerial and ambassadorial positions that it had the
power to fill as well as a separate list of potential candidates to
occupy those positions.
Coextensive with the nomenklatura were patron-client
relations. Officials who had the authority to appoint individuals
to certain positions cultivated loyalties among those whom they
appointed. The patron (the official making the appointment)
promoted the interests of clients in return for their support.
Powerful patrons, such as the members of the Politburo, had many
clients. Moreover, an official could be both a client (in relation
to a higher-level patron) and a patron (to other, lower-level
officials).
Because a client was beholden to his patron for his position,
the client was eager to please his patron by carrying out his
policies. The Soviet power structure essentially consisted of
groups of vassals (clients) who had an overlord (the patron). The
higher the patron, the more clients the patron had. Patrons
protected their clients and tried to promote their careers. In
return for the patron's efforts to promote their careers, the
clients remained loyal to their patron. Thus, by promoting his
clients' careers, the patron could advance his own power.
Data as of May 1989
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