Apparatchik
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Apparatchik (disambiguation).
Template:Russianterm Apparatchik (аппара́тчик, plural apparatchiki) is a Russian colloquial term for a full-time, professional functionary of the Communist Party, or government i.e., an agent (from "chik" - agent) of the governmental or party "apparat" (apparatus) that held any position of bureaucratic or political responsibility, with the exception of the higher ranks of management.
Since members of the "apparat" were frequently transferred between different areas of responsibility, that were often only loosely related to the professional training (if any) of the person; the term apparatchik (or "agent of the apparatus") was usually the best possible description of the person's profession and occupation.
The term was usually associated with a specific mindset, attitude and appearance of the person, and when used by "outsiders" it often bore derogatory connotations.
Today this term is also used in contexts other than Soviet Union. For example, it is often used to describe people who cause bureaucratic bottlenecks in otherwise efficient organizations, especially at support services groups such as IT services.