doi:10.18503/2658-3186-2025-9-2-20-35
Abstract. The study of political elites has traditionally remained a popular topic. The political elites and leaders of the Stalinist era are of particular interest. In the scientific literature, the term “inner circle” of J. V. Stalin was established, which represented the top of the Soviet political elite, a privileged group that occupied leadership positions in power structures directly involved in decision-making related to the use of the power. All representatives of the Soviet political elite in 1934–1939 were Stalin’s nominees who found their way into the highest and middle echelons of the party and state apparatus. In terms of its specific composition, Stalin's entourage is a variable quantity, that is, a mobile community of Stalin's comrades-in-arms, who are loyal to the leader to varying degrees, which ultimately determined their hierarchical position. It is the “inner circle” that is to be discussed in the article. To get closer to understanding the problem, it is necessary to analyze the composition of the political elite according to biographical parameters, consider the party and state activities and the sphere of competence of each representative of the “inner circle”, study the marital status and quality of life of the Soviet higher nomenklatura, examine the relationship between representatives of the Politburo, show involvement in repression and identify survival strategies of representatives of Stalin’s circle. In general, the hierarchical position of the highest nomenklatura was determined by devotion to J. V. Stalin and the criteria that he presented to his comrades: long-standing friendly relationships, professional competence, strong-willed qualities, physical endurance and ability to work, involvement in repressions, the presence of “dark spots” in the biography, a sense of duty. Not everyone from all people around the leader was able to pass through such a selection. To be continued
Keywords: history of Stalinism, Politburo, political elite, personnel policy, “J. V. Stalin inner circle”
Information about the author:
Makarova N. N., Associate Professor, Candidate of History, Associate Professor at the Global history, Institute of Humanitarian Education, Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University (NMSTU)
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For citation: Makarova N. N. J. V. Stalin’s Inner circle”: Principles of Personnel Selection in 1934–1939. Part 2. Social and Psychological Portrait of Soviet Political Elite (Continuation. Beginning in 4/2024), Gumanitarno-pedagogicheskie issledovaniya = Humanitarian and pedagogical Research, 2025, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 20–35. (In Russ.) doi:10.18503/2658-3186-2025-9-2-20-35.