Career Trajectories of Political Leaders and Formation of Political Elite in USSR in 1966—1990 (Politburo of CPSU Central Committee)

Abstract

The analysis of the members of the CPSU Politburo of the Central Committee biographical characteristics as an elite category in the structure of the Soviet political class is carried out. The purpose of the study is to identify normative patterns in the career trajectories of the highest stratum of the Soviet political elite. To achieve this goal, a database was formed containing the biographical characteristics of the leaders who had the status of a member and candidate member of the Politburo in the period from 1966 to 1990. Some parameters of the biographies of the studied leaders are of a normative nature, that is, they are characteristic of the majority: gender belonging to the male sex, place of birth in a rural area, higher education with a specific technical specialty, early age of starting managerial activity and relatively late age of entering the Politburo level as the highest stratum of the Soviet political class, experience in the real sector of the economy and management, combined with experience in exercising deputy powers in representative bodies at various levels. The combination of these characteristics contributed to the positive perception of the political elite by society and can be considered as a model for comparison with the political elite of modern Russia.