Gorbachev And His Generals

This book investigates the debate over Soviet military doctrine and changes in civil-military relations in the Soviet Union since 1985. One of Gorbachev's greatest challenges is to apply "new thinking" to the military sphere. Under this rubric such phrases as "reasonable sufficiency", and "reliable defence" are used by Soviet military leadership to characterize what they claim is a new set of doctrinal precepts for the armed forces. Frequently, however, the views expressed by leading members of the military establishment are still in conflict with Gorbachev's reform agenda. The contributors to "Gorbachev and His Generals" agree that it is an open question whether actual change in the Soviet armed forces will follow doctrinal reform or vice versa.