Civil-military relations in the Soviet Union: poised for conflict.
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Authors
Ziebarth, Kurt W.
Subjects
Soviet Union
civil-military relations
civil-military relations
Advisors
Tsypkin, Mikhail
Abenheim, Donald
Date of Issue
1991-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine civil-military relations in the Soviet
Union up until the events that led to the August 1991 coup d'etat. Using a historical
backdrop and existing case studies, it was illustrated that the military and political
leadership's had both conflict and consensus in their relationship. In an attempt to revive
the stagnating Soviet economy, Gorbachev launched a radical reform of the military
under the guise of glasnost, perestroika, and "new thinking". These changes had a
significant impact on the civil-military relationship. Considerable access to the defense
decision-making process was provided for a number of civilian institutions reducing the
military's autonomy in military affairs. Glasnost provided the impetus for scrutiny and
criticism of previous military policies demoralizing military leadership. Splits in the
officer corps resulted from the enhanced political participation supported by Gorbachev.
Lower and middle ranking officer in favor of radical reforms became disillusioned with
the conservatism of the High Command. The degree of conflict rose between the military and Gorbachev as concessions on a host of arms control agreements, the collapse of
Communist power in Eastern Europe, and the deteriorating situation between the central
government and the republics left the military in a state of flux. Gorbachev's persistence
toward further reform lead to the demise of the Communist Party and the ideology to
which the military had been bound to serve. With no economic return in sight and an
impending Union Treaty that would divulge a great deal of military decision-making to
the republics, the disgruntled High Command pledged its support to the coup.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
114 p.;28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.