Soviet Arms Transfers to Sub-Saharan Africa: What are they Worth in the United Nations?
Abstract
This thesis is an analysis of Soviet arms transfers to sub-Saharan Africa during the period 1974-1983. Using a focused comparison methodology, ten sub-Saharan nations are examined in light of two objectives. The first is to describe the range of military assistance relationships that existed between the Soviet Union and sub-Saharan nations during the review period. The second seeks evidence of the ability of arms transfers to assist the Soviets in achieving political influence over client states. The degree of similarity existing between the United Nations General Assembly voting records of the Soviet Union and recipients of Soviet military aid is used as an indicator of political influence. The principal research hypothesis states that if the Soviet Union represents the sole or predominant supplier of military arms and equipment to a recipient country, that country will mirror image the Soviet Union's United Nations voting record. The study concludes that the Soviet Union gains political influence as a result of arms transfers when recipient states are confronted with active or imminent military threats. Recipients of Soviet military assistance are unwilling to restructure military forces to align with new sources of supply for military hardware while regime survival is challenged. Therefore, African states, to include Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique, find themselves obligated to meet the expectation as of their Soviet patron to ensure the continued flow of arms and military equipment. (KR)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 02, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212065
Entities
People
- James F. Babbitt
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College