The purpose of these eleven scholars is to give the Russian official a distinct identity, to describe him in terms of the society from which he emerged, and to summarize the experience that rendered him ever more indispensable as the government became more complex. Quantitative data is skillfully integrated into the analysis of more than ten thousand official careers spanning some thirty decades, adding new theoretical and methodological dimensions to Russian historical studies. Originally published in 1980. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.