Nomenklatura [antikvár]

Preface Voslensky's Nomenklatura belongs to the very rare books that need not wait to join the treasury of political reflections. Its time is right now, both due to its actuality and to its extraordinary qualities. First of all, the book is well and perspicuously created. Step by step it guides the reader into special sectors of the Soviet system without losing sight of the system as a whole. The final picture develops successively, by itself, so to speak. As a starting point, Voslensky offers the thesis: Even with the revolution in the Soviet Union, through the party a monopolistic privileged stratum was established, which through various phases of development has fortified and legalized its position. This stratum, which not only separated itself from society, from the people, and from the rest of the world, but also inwardly established hierarchical ranks and barriers—this is the Nomenklatura. Other writers have called it "partyocracy," a "caste," the "new class," the "political bureaucracy" or "party bureaucracy." All refer to the same presence. No doubt the term "nomenklatura" is justified if one refers to the established hierarchical régime within the Soviet bureaucracy, the party bureaucracy, and the bureaucracies concomitant therewith. Voslensky develops this thesis in detail, historically, statistically, theoretically, and on the basis of personal experience. He presents a comprehensive and complete picture of the Soviet system—a picture that is exhaustive, meticulous and well informed, one of the most complete, if not the most complete ever. In any case, it is the most up-to-date picture of the Soviet system, and therefore—in the light of the tense international situation—very instructive. The book has special value due to its analytic quality and due to the objective, though not totally disengaged, spirit with which it is leavened. Voslensky does not hate, he does not accuse; even less does he curse or predict.