Sovnarkhoz
소브나르호스
Regional economic councils introduced under Khrushchev's 1957 industrial management reform. The reform abolished the centralized ministerial system and divided the USSR into 105 economic administrative regions, each managed by a sovnarkhoz responsible for local industry and construction. Intended to overcome departmental parochialism and foster integrated regional development, the system instead fragmented unified technical policy and bred local autarky. It was dismantled in 1965 under the Kosygin reform, which restored the centralized ministerial structure.
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Sources
- Wikipedia (EN) basic definition, 1957 introduction by Khrushchev, 105 regions, subordination to Supreme Soviet of National Economy
- Wikipedia (EN) full history of the reform: replacement of sectoral ministries with territorial councils, initial decentralization benefits, subsequent fragmentation of technical policy, 1965 liquidation
- Wikipedia (RU) detailed Russian article: original decree, 70 RSFSR economic regions, collegial structure, expansion of sovnarkhoz apparatus, 1960-1963 consolidation from 105 to 43 councils
- Marxists Internet Archive Isaac Deutscher contemporary analysis (The Reporter, June 1957): horizontal vs. vertical organization, Gosplan's new coordinating role, political significance of economic federalism