Apparatchik originally referred to a government official in the USSR, but now means an obedient bureaucrat who blindly follows orders. The term comes from the Russian words apparat, meaning government organization, and chik, meaning agent. Apparatchiks were used by the Communist Party to carry out government orders and were rewarded with stable employment, better housing, and other perks. The term is still used today, often in a disparaging way to describe inflexible government officials or to insult political opponents.
The Russian word apparatchik previously meant a government official in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). After the dissolution of the USSR and the dismantling of the government, the word came to mean obedient bureaucrat. The term apparatchik suggests that someone is a “yes man” i.e. follows orders blindly. Although a Russian colloquialism, the term has become part of the world lexicon.
Apparatchik is a compound of the Russian words apparat and chik. Apparat is translated into English as apparatus and is used in this context to mean a government organization. Chik means agent.
The Communist Party in the USSR used apparatchiks to carry out government orders and its agenda. Officials were to pull the line of government, maintain order, and put down any rebellion in their districts. Some of the bureaucrats had legitimate roles such as overseeing government agencies. Others were merely figureheads appointed to positions due to their loyalty to the Communist Party and had little or no experience. This allegiance often gave the apparatchiks employment for life as long as they did not betray or were not perceived as a traitor to party teachings or orders.
In addition to stable employment, the USSR rewarded an apparatchik in other ways. He had more freedom than his fellow citizens to move around the Soviet bloc. An apparatchik may have officially received a low salary in line with communist principles, but may also expect bribes. The official may also have received better housing and permission to educate his children outside the USSR. This all played into the USSR’s control of an apparatchik who knew luxuries could be taken away if he stepped out of line.
The word apparatchik has not gone out of use since the USSR was dismantled in 1991. New regimes in former USSR nations employ apparatchik or equivalent to do government bidding. Russians, however, still use the term to describe inflexible government officials who appear submissive or who block democratic reforms. Communist parties in many countries also continue to call some officials apparatchiks. This is not considered an insult, but simply denotes a position of responsibility within the party.
Most other modern uses of apparatchik are disparaging in nature. Political workers insult opponents with the term, for example by suggesting that party officials blindly follow orders from above without critical thinking. Opposing politicians often accuse the other side of filling government positions with apparatchiks to exert control and suppress dissent. The word is often used near election time to dissuade voters from supporting certain candidates.
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