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{{Short description|Term for a Soviet communist bureaucrat}}
{{for|the electronic rock music supergroup|Apparatjik}}
{{for|the electronic rock music supergroup|Apparatjik}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses}}
__NOTOC__
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{russianterm
{{russianterm
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| literal meaning = functionary
| literal meaning = functionary
}}
}}
An '''apparatchik''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɑ:|p|ə|ˈ|r|ɑ:|tʃ|ɪ|k}}; {{lang-ru|[[wikt:аппаратчик|аппара́тчик]]}} {{IPA-ru|ɐpɐˈratɕɪk|}}), in [[Russian language|Russian]] colloquial terms also borrowed widely into other languages, was a full-time, professional [[functionary]] of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] or the [[government of the Soviet Union|Soviet government]] ''apparat'' ([[Wiktionary:аппарат#Russian|аппарат]], apparatus), someone who held any position of [[bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] or [[politics|political]] responsibility, with the exception of the higher ranks of management called [[nomenklatura]]. The ''-chik'' suffix (-чик) puts the word into a [[diminutive]] attributal form, indicating someone playing a small part in a bigger scheme of things. [[James H. Billington|James Billington]] describes an apparatchik as "a man not of grand plans, but of a hundred carefully executed details."<ref>James H. Billington, ''Fire in the minds of men'', Transaction Publishers, 1999,
An ''''' apparatchik''''' ({{langx|ru|[[wikt:аппаратчик|аппара́тчик]]}}) was a full-time, professional [[functionary]] of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] or the [[government of the Soviet Union|Soviet government]] ''apparat'' ([[Wiktionary:аппарат#Russian|аппарат]], apparatus), someone who held any position of [[bureaucracy|bureaucratic]] or political responsibility, with the exception of the higher ranks of management called [[nomenklatura]]. [[James H. Billington|James Billington]] describes an ''apparatchik'' as "a man not of grand plans, but of a hundred carefully executed details."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a4PRx21WVqMC&dq=apparatchik&pg=PA455 |last=Billington |first=James H. |author-link=James H. Billington |date=1999 |title=Fire in the Minds of Men |location=New Brunswick, NJ |publisher=Transaction Publishers |page=455 |isbn=978-0-7658-0471-6}}</ref> The term is often considered derogatory, with negative [[connotation]]s in terms of the quality, competence, and attitude of a person thus described.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9EehH16HO48C&dq=derogatory++Apparatchik&pg=PR20 |last=Pearson |first=Raymond |date=1998 |title=The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire |location=New York City |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=0-312-17407-1}}</ref>
[https://books.google.com/books?id=a4PRx21WVqMC&pg=PA455&dq=apparatchik&ei=Unp5Sve5G6PCM4j-vYUN&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=apparatchik&f=false p. 455], {{ISBN|0-7658-0471-9}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7658-0471-6}}</ref> The term is often considered derogatory, with negative [[connotation]]s in terms of the quality, competence, and attitude of a person thus described.<ref>Raymond Pearson, ''The rise and fall of the Soviet Empire'', Palgrave Macmillan, [https://books.google.com/books?id=9EehH16HO48C&pg=PR20&dq=derogatory++Apparatchik&ei=LgSoSsWKOZzKzATSy9CpCg#v=onepage&q=derogatory%20%20Apparatchik&f=false p. xx], 1998, {{ISBN|0-312-17407-1}}</ref>you get me fam


Members of the apparat ('''apparatchiks''' or '''apparatchiki''') were frequently transferred between different areas of responsibility, usually with little or no actual training for their new areas of responsibility. Thus, the term apparatchik, or "agent of the apparatus" was usually the best possible description of the person's profession and occupation.<ref>Roland Huntford, ''The new totalitarians'', Chapter 7 "The Rule of the Apparatchiks," Stein and Day, 1972, p. 135, {{ISBN|0-8128-1408-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8128-1408-8}}.</ref> Not all apparatchiks held lifelong positions. Many only entered such positions in middle age.<ref>David Stuart Lane, Cameron Ross, ''The transition from communism to capitalism: ruling elites from Gorbachev to Yeltsin'', Palgrave Macmillan, 1999, [https://books.google.com/books?id=08wU08p7QHAC&pg=PA25&dq=apparatchik&ei=Unp5Sve5G6PCM4j-vYUN&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=apparatchik&f=false p. 25-26], {{ISBN|0-312-21612-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-312-21612-2}}</ref> Today ''apparatchik'' is also used in contexts other than that of the [[Soviet Union]] or communist countries. According to [[Collins English Dictionary]] the word can mean "an official or bureaucrat in any organization".<ref>apparatchik. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved 2 August 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com website:
Members of the apparat (''apparatchiks'' or ''apparatchiki'') were frequently transferred between different areas of responsibility, usually with little or no actual training for their new areas of responsibility. Thus, the term apparatchik, or "agent of the apparatus" was usually the best possible description of the person's profession and occupation.<ref>{{cite book |last=Huntford |first=Roland |author-link=Roland Huntford |date=1972 |title=The New Totalitarians |chapter=Chapter 7: The Rule of the Apparatchiks |location=New York City |publisher=[[Stein & Day]] |page=135 |isbn=0-8128-1408-8}}</ref> Not all apparatchiks held lifelong positions. Many only entered such positions in middle age.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08wU08p7QHAC&dq=apparatchik&pg=PA25 |first1=David Stuart |last1=Lane |first2=Cameron |last2=Ross |name-list-style=amp |date=1999 |title=The Transition from Communism to Capitalism: Ruling Elites from Gorbachev to Yeltsin |location=New York City |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |pages=25–26 |isbn=0-312-21612-2}}</ref> They were known to receive various benefits including free holiday vouchers, free meals and accommodation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://communistcrimes.org/en/elite-and-their-privileges-soviet-union |title=The Elite and Their Privileges in the Soviet Union |first=Olev |last=Liivik |date=28 October 2020 |website=Communist Crimes |access-date=2020-11-24 |language=en}}</ref> Today ''apparatchik'' is also used in contexts other than that of the [[Soviet Union]] or communist countries. According to ''[[Collins English Dictionary]]'' the word can mean "an official or bureaucrat in any organization".<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/apparatchik |title=Collins English Dictionary |chapter=apparatchik |edition=11th |access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> According to Douglas Harper's ''[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]'', the term was also used in the meaning "Communist agent or spy", originating in the writings of [[Arthur Koestler]], {{circa}}&nbsp;1941.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Apparatchik |title=Apparatchik |website=Dictionary.com}}</ref>
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/apparatchik</ref> According to Douglas Harper's ''[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]'', the term was also used in the meaning "Communist agent or spy", originating in the writings of [[Arthur Koestler]], c. 1941.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Apparatchik Apparatchik] Dictionary.com</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Cadre (politics)]]
⚫
* [[Clientelism]]
* [[Jobsworth]]
* [[Jobsworth]]
* [[Bureaucracy]]
* [[New class]]
* [[New class]]
* [[Nomenklatura]]
* [[Partmaximum]]
* [[Partmaximum]]
*[[Cadre management in the Soviet Union]]
* [[Political commissar]]
⚫
* [[Clientelism]]


==References==
==References==
Line 26: Line 25:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]], [[Samuel P. Huntington]], ''Political power: USA/USSR'', Viking Press, 1964, p.&nbsp;142, 150, 172.
* {{cite book |last1=Brzezinski |first1=Zbigniew |author-link1=Zbigniew Brzezinski |last2=Huntington |first2=Samuel P. |author-link2=Samuel P. Huntington |name-list-style=amp |date=1964 |title=Political Power: USA/USSR |location=New York City |publisher=[[Viking Press]] |pages=142, 150 & 172}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{wiktionary}}
{{wiktionary}}
*[[Robert Shea]], [http://bobshea.net/empire_of_the_rising_scum.html Empire of the Rising Scum], essay on apparatchiks by author/journalist on [http://bobshea.net BobShea.net] personal web site.
*{{cite web |url=http://bobshea.net/empire_of_the_rising_scum.html |title=Empire of the Rising Scum |first=Robert |last=Shea |author-link=Robert Shea |date=1990 |website=BobShea.net}}


[[Category:Cadre management in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Management occupations]]
[[Category:Management occupations]]
[[Category:Russian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Political pejoratives for people]]
[[Category:Soviet phraseology]]
[[Category:Soviet phraseology]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, 14 December 2024

For the electronic rock music supergroup, see Apparatjik.
For other uses, see Apparatchik (disambiguation).

Apparatchik
Russianаппаратчик
Romanizationapparatchik
Literal meaningfunctionary

An apparatchik (Russian: аппара́тчик) was a full-time, professional functionary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union or the Soviet government apparat (аппарат, apparatus), someone who held any position of bureaucratic or political responsibility, with the exception of the higher ranks of management called nomenklatura. James Billington describes an apparatchik as "a man not of grand plans, but of a hundred carefully executed details."[1] The term is often considered derogatory, with negative connotations in terms of the quality, competence, and attitude of a person thus described.[2]

Members of the apparat (apparatchiks or apparatchiki) were frequently transferred between different areas of responsibility, usually with little or no actual training for their new areas of responsibility. Thus, the term apparatchik, or "agent of the apparatus" was usually the best possible description of the person's profession and occupation.[3] Not all apparatchiks held lifelong positions. Many only entered such positions in middle age.[4] They were known to receive various benefits including free holiday vouchers, free meals and accommodation.[5] Today apparatchik is also used in contexts other than that of the Soviet Union or communist countries. According to Collins English Dictionary the word can mean "an official or bureaucrat in any organization".[6] According to Douglas Harper's Online Etymology Dictionary, the term was also used in the meaning "Communist agent or spy", originating in the writings of Arthur Koestler, c. 1941.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Billington, James H. (1999). Fire in the Minds of Men. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. p. 455. ISBN 978-0-7658-0471-6.
  2. ^ Pearson, Raymond (1998). The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Empire. New York City: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-17407-1.
  3. ^ Huntford, Roland (1972). "Chapter 7: The Rule of the Apparatchiks". The New Totalitarians. New York City: Stein & Day. p. 135. ISBN 0-8128-1408-8.
  4. ^ Lane, David Stuart & Ross, Cameron (1999). The Transition from Communism to Capitalism: Ruling Elites from Gorbachev to Yeltsin. New York City: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 25–26. ISBN 0-312-21612-2.
  5. ^ Liivik, Olev (28 October 2020). "The Elite and Their Privileges in the Soviet Union". Communist Crimes. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  6. ^ "apparatchik". Collins English Dictionary (11th ed.). Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Apparatchik". Dictionary.com.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Look up apparatchik in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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