Downgrading the Military in Soviet Foreign Policy

Abstract

This Research Memorandum presents strong evidence that the Soviet military is losing its dominance in the determination of Soviet foreign and defense policy. At least since early 1988, the military has been subjected to widespread criticism in the press, focused on its privileged status, excessive secrecy, and its claim to primacy among the instruments of policy that secure the Soviet state against its enemies. If this unprecedented trend continues, the military seems destined to play a lesser role in Soviet security policy and may itself undergo far-reaching structural changes. If so, primacy will shift to the economic sphere--for an indeterminant period. Keywords: Military doctrine, National security, Attitudes psychology, Military deemphasis. (KR)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA213131

Entities

People

  • Scott R. Atkinson

Organizations

  • Center for Naval Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Weapons
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • International Relations
  • Investments
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Doctrine
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Military Training
  • National Security
  • Psychology
  • Security
  • Students
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies