Leadership and succession in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and China (Studies in Russia and East Europe)

January and May 1984. The inspiration for the scheme was the Soviet succession struggle of 1982 but further reflection indicated that the problem of elderly leaderships, and the apparent absence of legitimate succession mechanisms, applied to nearly all communist systems. After a very stimulating seminar series the contributors assembled for a review conference held on 1-2 June 1984 at the School, to discuss each system -in turn and then on a comparative basis; the legitimacy of communist systems; the role of the military; the phenomenon of the cult of the personality; elite-mass relations; and church-state relations. Our thanks are due to all the contributors and indeed all who attended the conference for the enthusiasm, erudition and tolerance which rendered the series such a stimulating and fruitful exercise. Our warmest thanks are also due to Dr M. A. Branch, Director of the School, and his administrative staff, especially Philip Robinson and Katie McGill, for their encouragement, support and efficiency in providing a welcoming and central venue for the seminars and the conference. Students of the School, especially Ann Archer and Paul Feldman, also helped us most effectively over the period of the conference. We are deeply indebted to the Nuffield Foundation and Mrs Jan Hargreaves for their financial support. A special word of thanks is due to Lady Jane Stevens for providing us with a wonderful venue for the completion of the editorial work. The Soviet Union / Peter Frank -- Soviet Leadership Profiles / Stephen Carter -- Poland / George Sanford -- The German Democratic Republic / Martin Mccauley -- Czechoslovakia / Gordon Wightman -- Hungary George Schopflin -- Romania / Michael Shafir -- Bulgaria / J.f. Brown -- Albania / Patrick Artisien -- Yugoslavia / Dennison Rusinow -- China / Peter Ferdinand -- Regime And Citizen In The Soviet Union, Easter Europe And China / Stephen White. Edited By Martin Mccauley And Stephen Carter. Includes Bibliographical References. First Published in 1986 (this is the first edition). The papers in this volume were originally delivered at a series of seminars held at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London, between January and May 1984. The inspiration for the scheme was the Soviet succession struggle of 1982 but further reflection indicated that the problem of elderly leaderships, and the apparent absence of legitimate succession mechanisms, applied to nearly all communist systems. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-15 The Soviet Union....Pages 16-28 Soviet Leadership Profiles....Pages 29-39 Poland....Pages 40-63 The German Democratic Republic....Pages 64-80 Czechoslovakia....Pages 81-98 Hungary....Pages 99-113 Romania....Pages 114-135 Bulgaria....Pages 136-156 Albania....Pages 157-173 Yugoslavia....Pages 174-193 China....Pages 194-215 Regime and Citizen in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and China....Pages 216-229 Back Matter....Pages 230-256