Developing National Security Policy in The "Gorbachev Era"
Abstract
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is a glittering personality who has boldly seized the international political initiative. "Glasnost" and "perestrolka" have become almost household words which connote'a changed, fresh Soviet outlook on the world. The impact on United States national security policy is extraordinarily significant because the dramatic nature of recent Soviet arms control/arms reduction proposals has a particularly poignant political appeal in Western ^".^ 7 Europe. Gorbachev has succeeded in parlaying Soviet military power into a political initiative which confronts the United States with unprecedented opportunities and challenges: we face the enticing prospect of a reduction in East-West military tensions balanced against the much less appealing possibility that Gorbachev may be succeeding in politically eroding the cohesion of the NAT0 alliance after failing to do so militarily. To cope successfully, the U.S. will have to maintain military strength while more fully developing the diplomatic and economic tools of statecraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA436506
Entities
People
- Timothy A. Mueller
Organizations
- National War College