A Soviet Socialist Republic is a political and administrative term used to refer to a constituent unit within the larger Soviet Union during its existence between 1922 and 1991. As a part of the Soviet Union, a Soviet Socialist Republic was a self-governing administrative division that possessed limited sovereignty, with its political affairs largely guided by the principles of socialism and communist ideology.
The foundation of a Soviet Socialist Republic lies in the principles of Soviet democracy, where power theoretically resided with the working class and peasants. The supreme authority of a Soviet Socialist Republic was vested in the All-Union Congress of Soviets, which was composed of representatives elected by the local soviets (councils) at different levels.
Economically, Soviet Socialist Republics were characterized by a planned economy, where major industries and resources were owned and managed collectively by the state. The state played a significant role in distributing resources and determining economic priorities. The aim of these republics was to build a classless society, eliminate inequality, and create a socialist society that would eventually lead to the establishment of communism.
While the Soviet Socialist Republics had their own constitutions and legislative bodies, they were ultimately subservient to the central government of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Socialist Republics had limited international recognition and functioned as integral components of the Soviet Union rather than as independent nations. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviet Socialist Republics transformed into independent countries, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and others, each pursuing its own political and economic path.