Russian Civil-Military Relations

by Dale R. Herspring

Overview

". . . a volume that provides both solid historical background for the novice reader and provocative and thoughtful material for the more advanced scholar. It should find wide classroom use at all levels and will be an important addition to the bookshelf of any analyst of post-Soviet security affairs." —Slavic Review

"The history is both fascinating and timely . . ." —European Security

"When military reform returns to its deservedly prominent place in the Russian political agenda, Herspring's book will offer invaluable guidance." —Mark von Hagen

Dale Herspring analyzes three key periods of change in civil-military relations in the Soviet Union and postcommunist Russia: the Bolshevik construction of the communist Red Army in the 1920s; the era of perestroika, when Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to implement a more benign military doctrine and force posture; and the Yeltsin era, when a new civilian and military leadership set out to restructure civil-military relations. The book concludes with a timely discussion of the relationship of the military to the current political struggle in Russia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253332257
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	12/22/1996
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

DALE R. HERSPRING is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Kansas State University. A former Foreign Service Officer, he is author of The Soviet High Command, 1967–1989: Personalities and Politics and East German Civil-Military Relations: The Impact of Technology.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction

Part I. The 1920s

I. Devising a New Military Doctrine: Offense vs. Defense
II. Deciding on a Force Structure: The Debate about a Militia
III. How to Deal with Non-Russians: The Question of National Armies
IV. Red or Expert: Personnel Issues

Part II. The Gorbachev Period

V. Getting Control of Military Doctrine
VI. Restructuring the Armed Forces: How Professional a Military?
VII. The Revival of National Military Forces
VIII. Cadre and Party

Part III. Toward a Russian Army

IX. The Post-Coup Period and the Commonwealth of Independent States
X. The Russian Army Faces and Uncertain Future

Conclusion
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

Former US Foreign Service Officer Herspring (political science, Kansas State U.) analyzes three key periods of change in relations between the government and the military in the Soviet Union and postcommunist Russia. They are the Bolshevik construction of the Red Army in the 1920s, the era of perestroika when Mikhail Gorbachev tried to implement a more benign military doctrine and posture, and the Yeltsin era when new civilian and military leadership set out to reconstruct relations between them. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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