After Afghanistan: Two Opposing Views on the Soviet Military
Abstract
When Gen. Sec. Mikhail Gorbachev announced in 1987 his new defensive doctrine of "reasonable sufficiency," debate in Soviet society on the role of the military came to the forefront. The assumption that had existed since Stalin's day-that the Soviet military was the foundation and strength of the Soviet social system-began to be challenged openly. The debate moved from military journals read primarily by officers, to the pages of serious civilian journals and even mass-circulation daily newspapers. By 1988, when Gorbachev declared that the Soviet Union would unilaterally reduce the number of troops in Eastern Europe by 500,000, the debate on the Soviet militancy had intensified. Debates focused on the size of the military, whether or not there should be a professional military, what the army's mission should be, what privileges the army should enjoy, and so forth. These discussions continue with great energy and emotion. On one side of the debate, there are military reformers represented by groups such as young military officers, liberal deputies in the Congress of People's Deputies, enthusiastic supporters of perestroika in Soviet think tanks (known as tnstituch1k0, angry Soviet veterans of the Afghan war, and nationalistic-minded citizens of secessionist-inclined republics. In general, they believe the military is too large, too expensive, and more concerned about protecting its privileged status than defending the country. On the opposite side of the debate are enthusiastic supporters of the military, represented by conservative deputies; World War II veterans; older, professional officers; and "national bolsheviks." This group has watched the reduction of the military with dismay, feeling that a sacred institution has been insulted. Military supporters worry that a weakened army will be unable to restore order in a time of increasing chaos.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA593352
Entities
People
- Paul Olkhovsky
Organizations
- CNA ANALYSIS AND SOLUTIONS ALEXANDRIA VA