Political Elite Recruitment in the Soviet Union

Inter-generational micro-class mobility during and after socialism: The power, education, autonomy, capital, and horizontal (PEACH) model in Hungary

“…Although their official ideological commitments led them to maintain a presence among the industrial proletariat, CPs also sought to bring various governmental, managerial, professional, military, and technical elites into their fold, as a means of maintaining control (Djilas, 1957; Harasymiw, 1984). Party membership ensures political reliability, and thus, in the context of state socialism, it became a paramount criterion for advancement in careers involving ideological work, leadership, responsibility, or potential influence.…”

Autocracy

“…(Lynskey, 1985, pp. See for example Harasymiw (1984); Hill and Frank (1983). ) See also Rank (1913), Volume II, pp.…”

Landing on all fours? Communist elites in post-Soviet Russia

“…However, the opposite correlation would result if the Communist party recruited new members mainly from its own ranks, i.e., families with higher incomes. Harasymiw (1984) and Hill and Frank (1991) find no indication that family party membership was a common recruitment principle. Official figures on party recruits report that the vast majority consists of simple workers or peasants, who together account for between 60 and 70% of all new party entries since the late 1950s.…”

“…However, as Hill and Frank (1991) point out, membership was not open to everybody. According to the detailed descriptions of the party recruitment process provided by Harasymiw (1984) and Hill and Frank (1991), members were usually recruited by local party or Komsomol authorities using a thorough multi-level assessment not only of political loyalty and social status but also of work performance. The Communist party was interested in attracting not only the most devoted members but also the most talented and able people.…”