Попытка смены поколений партийно-советской номенклатуры как инструмент преодоления кризиса Коммунистической Партии Украины (1985–1991 гг.)
An Attempt to Change Generations in the Soviet Party Nomenclature as a Tool for Tackling the Crisis in the Communist Party of Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the Communist Party of Ukraine’s crisis at the time of perestroika (1985 to 1991). The consequences of the crisis were mass resignations, the formation of fractions and platforms, and the regionalisation and decentralisation of party structures. Furthermore, the crisis contributed to a continuing fall in the authority of the CPSU in general and of the CPU in particular. This was due to limitations on its access to real levers of influence upon transformational processes, the loss of control throughout reforms, the growth of spontaneity, chaos, and the uncontrollability in the development of society. In order to overcome the crisis, the Communist Party attempted a generational change in the Soviet party nomenclature, which is supposed to have significantly rejuvenated the political elite of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR. However, the authors of the article, having analysed archival documents, prove that in the Ukrainian SSR, a generational change did not take place, and the young cadres who came to power had no real influence. An attempt to change generations in the country’s political elite failed and became the cause of internal political conflict.

• Details
• Contents