NON-COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS AND NATIONAL POLITICS: THE USSR SUPREME SOVIET ELECTIONS OF 1984

In: Electoral studies: an international journal, Band 4, Heft 3, S. 215-229

Abstract

ELECTIONS TO THE 'ELEVENTH CONVOCATION' OF THE USSR SUPREME SOVIET TOOK PLACE ON 4 MARCH 1984. THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE ELECTIONS TOOK PLACE IS EXAMINED HERE IN DETAIL, FROM THE CALLING OF THE ELECTION ON 16 DECEMBER 1983, THROUGH THE NOMINATION, APPROVAL AND REGISTRATION OF THE CANDIDATES, TO THE PRE-ELECTION MEETINGS WITH CONSTITUENTS AND THE POLL ITSELF. THE LEVEL OF TURNOUT AND THE VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE SINGLE LIST OF CANDIDATES WERE IN EACH CASE THE HIGHEST IN SOVIET HISTORY; THEY MUST, HOWEVER, BE ADJUSTED FOR THE USE OF 'ABSENTEE CERTIFICATES' AND AN APPARENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CITIZENS NOT RECORDED ON THE ELECTORAL REGISTER. THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT ELECTIONS WITHOUT CHOICE, AS IN THE USSR, ARE NOT NECESSARILY ELECTIONS WITHOUT POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. HE POINT OUT THAT THE SOVIET ELECTIONS APPEAR IN FACT TO PERFORM AT LEAST THREE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS: LEGITIMATION; POLITICAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN REGIME AND CITIZENRY; AND POLITICAL MOBILIZATION AND SOCIALIZATION. GIVEN THE INCREASING ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES THEY ARE LIKELY TO FACE IN THE LATER 1980S AND BEYOND, THE AUTHOR FEELS SOVIET AUTHORITIES MAY BE EXPECTED TO MAKE EVEN MORE USE OF SUCH MECHANISMS IN THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO SECURE ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR DECISIONS WITHOUT RESORT TO OVERTLY COERCIVE MEANS.