Soviet Strategic Arms Policy before SALT

by Christoph Bluth

Overview

Christoph Bluth presents an original analysis of the buildup of strategic forces from the death of Stalin to the SALT I agreement. The author outlines Soviet strategic arms policy, identifies the principal interest groups involved, and studies a number of critical decisions taken in relation to strategic bombers, ICBMs, strategic nuclear forces based at sea, ballistic missile defense, and the military uses of space. As well as examining external threat assessment and wider foreign policy, the author pays particular attention to the role of domestic factors such as Khrushchev's endeavors to shift resources away from military industries to agriculture and consumer goods production. Therefore he is able to demonstrate how domestic priorities and internal power struggles account for the seeming inconsistencies of Soviet military and foreign policy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521403726
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/12/1992
Series:	Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies , #83
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

List of abbreviations; List of tables; Acknowledgements; Part I. Soviet Strategic Arms Policy - The General Framework: 1. Introduction; 2. Decision-making in the Soviet Union; 3. Strategic nuclear power and foreign policy objectives; 4. Soviet military doctrine and policy; 5. Party-military relations and strategic arms policy; Part II. Soviet Decision-Making in Strategic Arms Policy: 6. The development of strategic bombers in the Soviet Union; 7. Soviet ICBM deployment: two case studies; 8. Soviet strategic nuclear power at sea; 9. Strategic defence; 10. The military uses of space; 11. Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"A work of enduring value..." Choice

"...a useful addition to the growing body of work on the postwar conduct of the USSR in this important area; and until Western access to Soviet archives improves, it is likely to remain one of the better and more informed analyses available." Coit D. Blacker, American Political Science Review

"...provides valuable insights on the factors which influenced policy formation and Khrushchev's attempt to use Soviet military forces for political ends....Overall, Bluth has made a valuable contribution to our understanding of Soviet strategic weapons thinking and policy, particularly during the Khrushchev years. The study will be of value not only to scholars and students of Soviet strategic policy, but also to a wider range of scholars and students interested in Soviet politics during this period." James Fergusson, Canadian Slavonic Papers

From the Publisher