A Normal Totalitarian Society: How the Soviet Union Functioned and How It Collapsed by Vladimir Shlapentokh

Author:Vladimir Shlapentokh [Shlapentokh, Vladimir]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General
ISBN: 9781315482712
Google: fTIrDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-07-05T11:40:53+00:00

The Privatization Plot Theory

The second theory that focused on the Soviet ruling class assumed that the apparatchiks were greedy thieves who dreamed about living the Western style of life. Accordingly, the nomenklatura, who longed for private property rights, advanced perestroika, knowing that it would lead to great riches in the wake of the Soviet collapse.15

The main problem with this theory is that prior to perestroika the apparatchiks were not even close to advocating the idea of privatization. In fact, even during perestroika and up until 1989–1990, there were no Moscow officials who thought seriously about privatizing state property. Most party apparatchiks were deeply hostile toward privatization. Gorbachev avoided the use of this term until the last year of his rule.16 In 1985, the political elite was pursuing its egotistical interests more than its predecessor had in Stalin’s time, yet it remained concerned with the strength of the state, the party, and Russia’s geopolitical interests.

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