Sistema is a Russian term to denote “how the government really works” (as opposed to via formal state institutions).

The term refers to a complex and pervasive system of governance, influence, and control that was deeply embedded in the Soviet Union’s political and intelligence fabric, particularly embodied by the KGB during the Cold War era. This system was characterized by its extensive network of surveillance, espionage, and covert operations, both domestically and internationally.

The KGB, which stood for Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti (Committee for State Security), was at the forefront of enforcing the Soviet Union’s ideological conformity and security. It played a crucial role in maintaining the sistema by ensuring loyalty, suppressing dissent, and conducting intelligence operations against perceived enemies of the state, including foreign governments and their citizens.

Ideological warfare

Within the context of the Cold War, the sistema was not just a tool for internal control but also a strategic asset in the ideological battle against the West, particularly the United States. The KGB’s activities included espionage, dissemination of propaganda, and the manipulation of information to influence political outcomes in other countries, aiming to weaken adversaries and strengthen the Soviet position on the global stage.

The sistema’s reach extended beyond the KGB to encompass other elements of the Soviet apparatus, including the military, the Communist Party, and the bureaucracy, creating a pervasive culture of surveillance, suspicion, and secrecy that defined the era and significantly impacted the dynamics of international relations during the Cold War.