The Nomenklatura, A FOSSILIZED ELITE

My personal reward for being Gromyko's adviser was that I became a member of the nomenklatura hierarchy. This is a list of the most important posts in the party, government administration and other institutions. These positions are filled by direct party appointment or with party approval. Nomenklatura is a caste system that applies only to the elite class. Its many levels enjoy varying degrees of privilege according to rank. For Politburo members there is no limit or restriction on privileges. Below this level the grading structure begins. The Central Committee defines the place of anyone eligible for inclusion in the various...