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Using archival sources, this book presents an explanation for the rise and subsequent collapse of the Soviet state.
List of contents
Preface; 1. Introduction: explaining state-building outcomes and the Soviet Russian case; Part I. Structure and Identity in the Post-Revolutionary State Elite: 2. Anatomy of a regional elite: the rise of the provincial Komitetchiki; 3. Constructing an elite identity: images of self, service and state; Part II. Informal Sources of Power in the Post-Revolutionary State: 4. Extending the reach of the state: personal networks and territorial administration; 5. The constraints of power: personal networks and central rulership; Part III. Intrastate Conflict and the Constraints of Power Redefined: 6. Center and regions in conflict I: collectivization and the crisis of regional leadership; 7. Center and regions in conflict II: the fall of the provincial Komitetchiki; 8. Conclusion: state building and the Soviet Russian case reconsidered; Notes; Bibliography; Index.
Summary
Using formerly unavailable archival sources, this book presents an explanation for the rise and subsequent collapse of the Soviet state, and explains how personal networks and elite identity served as informal sources of power that influenced state strength.
