The Soviet Afghanistan Experience as a Reflection of Soviet Strategic Culture

Abstract

Soviet Strategic Culture is a historical concept which describes the characteristic Soviet approaches to international affairs. In its most developed, utilitarian form, it projects probably Soviet political and diplomatic behavior. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent operations provide a perspective from which to judge Soviet consistency with their normally expected methods. This paper examines Soviet performance in Afghanistan to determine its consistency with Soviet Strategic Culture. Conclusions and implications are drawn which show the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan as a significant departure from the traditions of Soviet Strategic Culture. Ongoing Soviet attempts to massively restructure their system thus portend a period of great ambiguity. General Secretary Gorbachev's new thinking confounds the use of this historical concept. Hence, the utility of Soviet Strategic Culture as a predictive concept seems greatly reduced.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 04, 1989
Accession Number
ADA209189

Entities

People

  • Thomas J. Kelly

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Consistency
  • Environment
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Governments
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Strategy
  • Nations
  • New York
  • Reflection
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • Societies
  • Students
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design