Yup, one such zampolit (an abbreviation that superseded komisar in the latter part of the Soviet Union) is the villain in one of my novels.

A zampolit’s most time-consuming function in a Soviet military unit was to teach and enforce patriotism. But additionally, they could and sometimes did short circuit the chain of command by second-guessing military decisions.

While political officers wore army uniforms with military rank insignia, they actually worked for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. They had their own, separate chain of command right up to the Politburo.

Practically, a zampolit major could sometimes enjoy the same respect and social distinction as the commander of a numbered army.

This reflected the practical power arrangement of the Soviet Union, which was a balance between the Army, the Party, and the KGB.

Do we really want to emulate this kind of political power structure based in mandated patriotism?

Well, we might want to consider that the Soviet Union no longer exists, and most experts consider that Party meddling in the army and other sectors of society had much to do with its fall.