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Soviet Union [USSR] Selection Procedures
The standards for admission into the CPSU required that a
person be at least eighteen years old, have a good personal record,
and possess some knowledge of the principles of Marxism-Leninism.
Those who wanted to become party members had to secure references
from at least three party members of at least five years' standing.
In the case of prospective members entering the party from the
Komsomol, one of the references had to have been written by a
member of the Komsomol city or district committee. These references
attested to the candidate's moral, civic, and professional
qualities.
Only the PPO general meeting could accept or reject an
application for membership
(see Soviet Union USSR - Primary Party Organization
, this
ch.). Before the general meeting, however, the PPO secretary
reviewed that person's application, and the secretary's
recommendations counted heavily in the selection process. The
district or town party committee then confirmed the acceptance of
the prospective member. Upon acceptance, the individual became a
candidate (nonvoting) member of the party for one year. The new
candidate paid an admission fee of 2 rubles (for value of the
ruble--see Glossary) and monthly dues that varied from 10 kopeks to
3 percent of salary, depending on the person's income.
During the candidate stage, the individual had to faithfully
carry out responsibilities assigned by the party. Candidates had to
demonstrate their ability to cope with the obligations of party
membership, which included attendance at party meetings,
improvements in labor productivity, and efforts to strengthen one's
understanding of Marxism-Leninism. After one year, the candidate
had to again solicit recommendations from three members of five
years' standing and undergo a review by the PPO secretary. The PPO
general meeting then voted on the candidate's application for full
membership, and the district or city organization confirmed the
acceptance of the full member.
The Party Rules defined many obligations for CPSU
members. For example, the party member had to resolutely execute
the general line and directives of the party, explain to the
nonparty masses the foreign and domestic policies of the CPSU, and
facilitate the strengthening of the party's bonds with the people.
In addition, party members had to strive to increase productivity
in their regular jobs, improve the quality of their work, and
"inject into the economy the achievements of science and
technology." The Party Rules required that members
participate in party activities, broaden their political horizons,
and struggle against any manifestation of bourgeois ideology and
religious prejudices. Party members had to strictly observe the
norms of communist morality, place social interests higher than
personal interests, and exhibit modesty and orderliness. Party
members also undertook criticism of other members and selfcriticism in meetings. Criticism and self-criticism uncovered
conflicts, mistakes, and shortcomings that resulted from personal
or organizational inadequacies. Once flaws were uncovered,
criticism and self-criticism generated peer pressure to remove the
problem. Finally, party members had to consistently promote the
foreign policy of the Soviet Union and work to strengthen the
defense forces of the country.
In addition to their obligations, full members of the CPSU had
certain rights. They participated in elections of candidates to
party organs, and they could be chosen for positions in the
hierarchy. At party meetings, conferences, meetings of party
committees, and in the party press, party members could freely
discuss issues connected with the policy and activities of the
party. According to the Party Rules, party members could
criticize any party organ and any other party member (including
members of the leadership) at party meetings, plenums and
conferences, and congresses at all levels of the party hierarchy.
The norms of democratic centralism precluded such criticism,
however. Any party member brave enough to make such criticism would
have been subject to party discipline and possible exclusion from
the CPSU. A party member had the right to participate in party
meetings, bureau sessions, and committees when these bodies
discussed that person's activities or behavior. In addition, a
party member could submit questions, statements, and suggestions to
any party body, including the Central Committee, and demand a
reply.
The party could take several forms of disciplinary action
against members who broke its rules. The lightest penalty was a
reprimand, followed by a censure. Both of these measures were
entered into the member's permanent party record. A harsher
punishment was reduction to candidate status for one year. For
severe rule infractions, a party member could be expelled. The
stigma attached to expulsion from the party remained with the
individual throughout his life and precluded career advancement,
access to better housing facilities, and educational opportunities
for the person's children. In some instances, expelled party
members have lost high-status positions.
Another form of disciplinary action, which occurred on a wider
scale, was the so-called "exchange of party documents." This
entailed a review of the party's membership and discussions between
party members and their superiors, followed by replacement of old
party cards. The exchange of party documents provided an occasion
for the CPSU to rid itself of members who breached party
discipline. Party sources reported that exchanges of party cards
were not purges
(see Soviet Union USSR - The Period of the Purges
, ch. 2).
Nevertheless, the Russian word chistka, which means purge,
was the term the party used to describe these exchanges. The last
exchange of party documents occurred in 1975.
Several reasons accounted for the desire of Soviet citizens to
join the party, despite the stringent obligations it placed upon
its members and the formal nature of their rights. The primary
reason for joining the party was opportunity for career advancement
and social mobility. Party membership was a prerequisite for
promotion to managerial positions in Soviet society. In addition,
party membership opened up the possibility for travel abroad,
admission to special shops for consumer goods, access to Western
media, and cash bonuses for work. Party membership also provided
the chance for upward mobility from the working class or peasantry
into professional, white-collar positions in the party apparatus.
Children of lower-class parents tended to enter this "political
class" in order to raise their status. Having become members of
this class, these people could then sure their offspring access to
the amenities Soviet life has to offer.
Party membership had other, less tangible rewards. It enabled
an individual to claim membership in an organization linked to
Russian historical tradition, to the Bolshevik Revolution, and to
the world-historical movement the CPSU claimed to lead. In
addition, as the dominant political institution in society, the
party offered the most important outlet for political
participation. These benefits encouraged a feeling of in-group
solidarity with other members of the CPSU and a sense of civic
efficacy.
Data as of May 1989
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