Review on: Makarenko V.P. Russian Power and the Bureaucratic State: P. 1. Edition 2, Revised and Enlarged. Rostov-on-Don, 2016. 642 p.

Abstract. The new fundamental monograph of V.P. Makarenko is continuing studies of the famous Russian philosopher and political scientist on the issue of national bureaucracy. It is a development of provisions and conclusions, which were contained in the monograph “The Bureaucracy and Stalinism” (1989) and in other writings. In our time, interest in the problem of bureaucracy in Russia is increased. The first part of the book reveals the methodology of the study. The second part contains the theory of bureaucracy and the historical outline of the bureaucracy in Russia. In the third part V.P. Makarenko raises the question of possible alternatives to a state and bureaucracy. V.P. Makarenko sees bureaucracy as a particular social class, and specifies that the state has expressed its interests in Russia, and especially its leadership. He does not accept any idealization of prerevolutionary Russia or the Soviet Union. The economic basis of bureaucratic power in Russia he sees as a huge state-owned. He stresses that the bureaucracy in Russia also performed the ideological function. It was in an effort to emphasize the unity of interests of bureaucracy and public. As pointed by V.P. Makarenko, this function is performed in our time. V.P. Makarenko shows sympathy for anarchism in opposition to bureaucracy. The new book will cause great interest.

Keywords: bureaucracy, power, state, society, social and political practice, bureaucratic state.