Local Soviets of the Belarusian SSR of “Developed Socialism” (1965–1984): Communication of Nomencltures

The article endeavors to diverge from the conventional normative approach in the study of the role of local (regional) bodies of state power and administration — namely, village, settlement, district, city, and regional Soviets, along with their executive committees — in the Soviet political system. The issue under consideration is to be approached by means of an analysis of the proposals put forth by the Belarusian regional Soviet nomenclature with regard to enhancing the effi cacy of the system of local Soviets of Workers’ Deputies / People’s Deputies. The analysis focuses predominantly on proposals that implicitly refl ect its consolidated position based on administrative practices. The impetus behind the regional bureaucracy’s formulation of this innovative package emanated from two primary motivations: first, the aspiration to augment its authority in alignment with the interests of business and its own administrative career advancement; and second, the desire to curtail the inevitable rise in labor intensity and to safeguard itself from potential career hazards. Local managers recognized the necessity to revise the existing model of relations between regional and higher administrative structures. This revision entailed two primary components. First, it involved the transformation of local Soviets into the primary entity responsible for the comprehensive socio-economic development of their administrative-territorial units. Second, it entailed the expansion of the measures of real administrative infl uence in relation to the heads of enterprises and organizations of higher subordination located on their territory. The effectiveness of the local authorities’ actions was associated with the opportunity to redistribute funded and limited material resources, as well as with the strengthening of local budgets with new revenue