THE CPSU AND ITS MEMBERS - BETWEEN COMMUNISM AND POSTCOMMUNISM

Once dominant and unchallenged throughout the USSR, the Communist Part y of the Soviet Union rapidly lost authority in the last two years of Soviet rule. Banned by Russian presidential decree after the failure o f the attempted coup of August 1991, it was re-established in February 1993 and soon became the largest of the postcommunist parties. A 1992 survey of current and former party members as well as other Russians found that members were characterized by a relatively high degree of a ctivism. They were disproportionately male, more affluent than non-mem bers, and better provided with consumer goods. Younger respondents and religious believers were more likely to have left the party than thei r older colleagues. Those who still regarded themselves as party membe rs were the most likely to oppose economic reform and support the coll ectivist principles of the communist era, particularly if they were ac tivists; but the differences between members and non-members were not substantial, and both were found to hold generally pessimistic views o n the postcommunist system. These findings suggest that, although form er members will continue to be influential, CPSU membership is by itse lf likely to play a limited part in shaping the political direction of postcommunist Russia.