A STUDY WAS MADE OF SOVIET ADULT POLITICAL EDUCATION MAINLY AS IT APPLIES TO RUSSIAN URBAN AREAS, WHERE THE SYSTEM IS MOST HIGHLY DEVELOPED. THIS SYSTEM, AN AGENCY FOR TRANSMITTING POLITICAL DOCTRINE, FORMS A PART OF THE VAST NETWORK OF FORMAL POLITICAL COMMUNICATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE MASS MEDIA, AGITATION, AND COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERSHIP TRAINING SCHOOLS. UNDER KHRUSCHEV, THE SYSTEM BECAME THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF POLITICAL ACTIVITY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE HIERARCHY OF POLITICAL SCHOOLS, CIRCLES, AND THE EVENING UNIVERSITY OF MARXISM-LENINISM PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO THE ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND CHARACTER OF THE SYSTEM. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, DESPITE FAULTS IN SUCH AREAS AS TEACHER AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, AND SUPERVISORY AND TEACHING METHODS, ADULT POLITICAL INSTRUCTION WILL REMAIN A MAJOR FACTOR IN SOVIET POLITICAL COMMUNICATION. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 149 YORK STREET, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT O6511. 196 PAGES. (LY)