The Costs of the Soviet Empire.
Abstract
This study develops and applies a comprehensive framework for estimating all of the economic costs incurred by the Soviet Union in acquiring, maintaining, and expanding its empire. We define the 'empire' to include the geographically contiguous countries of Eastern Europe and Afghanistan, and the parts of the empire that lie 'abroad'. The included countries cover a wide range of types and degrees of Soviet influence and control-a characteristic that is not unique to the current Soviet empire. We define the costs of empire to include costs incurred by the Soviet Union to maintain or increase control in countries under Soviet domination, to acquire influence in countries that are candidates for future Soviet control, and to thwart or subvert countries opposed to it. Previous studies of the costs of the Soviet empire have been concerned with selected parts of the total costs, for example, emphasizing costs associated with particular countries or groups of countries such as those in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), or with such specific cost categories as Soviet economic and military aid. Our study draws on this prior work, combining and supplementing it in various ways. Substantial gaps and inadequacies remain in the available data. One of our aims is to highlight the most important gaps and thereby provide a basis for further data collection and analysis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA140885
Entities
People
- A. Gurwitz
- C. Wolf Jr.
- E. Brunner Jr.
- K. C. Yeh
- M. Lawrence
Organizations
- RAND Corporation