Is Soviet Defense Policy Becoming Civilianized?

Abstract

Since Mikhail Gorbachev assumed power in 1985, aspiring players from outside the military have sought to influence the Soviet defense decision making process. As a result, there has been a significant erosion of the monopoly held by the Defense Ministry and the General Staff in formulating Soviet Military programs and policy. This report examines the changing structure and context of Soviet defense decision making, emphasizing the growing role of civilians in shaping Soviet national security policy. If these defense intellectuals and other civilians succeed, it may or may not mean an end to the historic competition between the Soviet Union and the West. It will, however, guarantee that any relationship that eventually emerges will entail a more cosmopolitan Soviet adversary and a major alteration in the geopolitical challenge it represents.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA237135

Entities

People

  • Benjamin S. Lambeth

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arms Control
  • Defense Industry
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Political Systems
  • Sociopolitics
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Strategic Security Studies