The Soviet Union and strategic nuclear war.

Abstract

The strategic relationship which exists between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. is an important consideration in charting the course of international relations in the remainder of this century. To understand the nature of this relationship, especially as it evolves in the SALT era, one must understand three fundamental realities of Soviet strategic policy. First, the interests of the Soviet Union, and the means selected in pursuit oi those interests, are conditioned by an experience which is unique to Soviet Russia. This experience lacks sufficient commonality with that of the United States to serve as a basis for mutual cooperation and accommodation. Second, developments in the Soviet nuclear arsenal are designed to secure a position of strategic dominance from which Soviet influence can be exercised with relative impunity. Third, the Soviet view of nuclear war differs radically from that of the United States. Soviet strategic doctrine represents a realistic military approach to the problem of nuclear war, and consists of a set of war fighting guidelines which capitalize on the key principles of surprise, early seizure of the strategic initiative, and decisive use of nuclear weapons. This research, completed in June 1979, examines each of these three issues.