This paper explores a particular dimension of the role of the apparatchiki in the development of the Soviet system, particularly in relation to political development. To some degree, it extends work presented elsewhere, and relates to an important dimension of Soviet (and other) political development: the role of those selected to occupy a “leading and guiding” position in society, and the limitations they impose on the prospects for political development; these stem indirectly from past recruitment and training practices, further influenced by their more recent experience in office. It is argued that the apparatchiki chosen to perform certain tasks at a particular stage of socioeconomic development, and trained to use a range of techniques deemed appropriate at the time, became an obstacle to the development of the political system in the direction to which successive leaders have declared their commitment. More specifically, leaders appointed under Stalin to enforce rapid economic growth, at the expense of developing the society's political dimension, were recruited for their possession of certain skills and attitudes that were reflected in their administrative behavior and that became the norm in Soviet administrative practice. The “consideration” with which the Brezhnev administration treated its cadres further confirmed inappropriate values in the culture of the administrators.

This feature of the role of the apparatchiki has been recognized in the Soviet Union, but little of concrete effect has been done to counteract it.