The Soviet Turn Toward Conventional Force Reduction

The Internal Struggle and the Variables at Play

Harry Gelman

ResearchPublished 1989

This report examines the relationship between the Soviet force posture toward Western Europe and the political struggle that is being waged in the Soviet Union for control over the priorities of military deployment policy and military-industrial decisionmaking. It presents an overview of the intertwined issues that have been the key battleground in this contest: how to define the Soviet military budget, how far and how fast to cut it, how far to reduce Soviet conventional forward deployments in Europe, how much asymmetry to accept in such reductions, how to reorganize forces for "defensive" purposes, and whether to move away from the traditional Soviet mass conscripted army in the direction of a professional army. Finally, the study considers prospects for the future.

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  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 1989
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 92
  • Paperback Price: $25.00
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-0-8330-1070-4
  • Document Number: R-3876-AF

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Gelman, Harry, The Soviet Turn Toward Conventional Force Reduction: The Internal Struggle and the Variables at Play, RAND Corporation, R-3876-AF, 1989. As of September 16, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R3876.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Gelman, Harry, The Soviet Turn Toward Conventional Force Reduction: The Internal Struggle and the Variables at Play. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1989. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R3876.html. Also available in print form.
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