A privileged and corrupt elite

Question 1

What emerged in the USSR?

Answer 1

A privileged and corrupt communist elite, particularly under Leonid Brezhnev’s leadership from 1964 to 1982

Question 2

What two groups was Soviet society divided into?

Answer 2

CPSU (Communist Party of the Soviet Union) - enjoyed preferential status
Rest of society - didn’t enjoy preferential status

Question 3

Within the Communist Party, which group in particular enjoyed the trappings of office at national, regional and local levels?

Answer 3

The nomenklatura

Question 4

Who were the nomenklatura/Soviet elite?

Answer 4

They were the bureaucrats, appointed by the CPSU to administer all aspects of state activity

Question 5

What did the bureaucrats in the nomenklatura have exclusive access to?

Answer 5

A range of privileges including country residences, official cars, private supplies of Western goods, luxury vacation resorts and private medical centres

Question 6

What did many members of nomenklatura do?

Answer 6

Took bribes, pocketed government funds and appointed family members and friends to state jobs

Question 7

What were the satellite regimes of EE led by?

Answer 7

Privileged and frequently corrupt communist elites