Word: nomenklatura
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...after lobbying by church officials, the government introduced optional religious instruction in schools by administrative fiat rather than parliamentary vote. A poll released last week shows that the church is perceived as the single most powerful national institution, stronger than the government, the presidency, the military, the old communist nomenklatura and even Solidarity. The church's ascendancy has left many Poles uneasily wondering whether their country might someday be transformed into a clerical state, ruling in accordance with the dicta of Pope John Paul II (who makes his fourth papal visit to his native country next month...
...elections, and all have pledged to abandon command economies for the free market. But while small-scale capitalism is beginning to take root, no country has yet attempted to privatize the thousands of large-scale industries in the portfolios of state- owned business. In some countries an entrenched communist nomenklatura is hanging on to as much economic power as it can; in others, both government and opposition are so riven by disagreements that day-to-day administration seems to be coming apart. Says George Karasimeonov, a political science professor at Sofia University: "We have experienced the birth of democracy...
...aspects of the current political order is not that it is predicated on a bankrupt ideology but that it is so manifestly inegalitarian. In what is supposedly a classless society, life for the masses is a ceaseless hustle to acquire the most basic goods while for party bigwigs, the nomenklatura, it is relatively sweet, thanks to their access to all manner of worldly offerings. With resentments over these inequities rapidly growing as the economy deteriorates, Central Committee members last week reportedly did something that privileged elites rarely do: they voted to give up some of their perks...
This does not mean Politburo members will soon be seen in the food queues. According to officials familiar with the new party platform, the Central Committee recommended that party benefits be transferred to holders of government posts, most of whom are at present members of the nomenklatura. Communist officials who founder at the polls in future elections, however, will, at least in theory, find their standard of living much diminished...