Restructuring Superpowers: The Role of the Military
Abstract
A critical part of the emerging new world order will in fact be the political, social, and economic structures and viabilities of the old superpowers: the Soviet Union and the United States. Currently, it appears that the U.S. is perhaps handling its problems of restructuring better than its old Cold War rival. While the Soviets are struggling to maintain some control over and positive relationships with the various parts of their declining empire, the U.S. seems to have gained some increased world prestige from its military successes in the Persian Gulf. The current U.S. well-being--precarious though it may be--owes much to the performance of U.S. armed forces in the recent Gulf War. And this military performance itself offers dramatic evidence of the U.S. forces' successful rebuilding following the Vietnam War. I believe that my Russian military counterparts currently face an extraordinary opportunity to restructure the Soviet military in such a way that their restructuring could contribute significantly to their national well-being and to global stability. In this sense, the Soviet military are perhaps the greatest hope for the realization of Gorbachev's dream of a new, reformed Russia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 24, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA237298
Entities
People
- Hubert Bridges Jr
Organizations
- United States Army War College