Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Military Meaning Of The New Soviet Doctrine, Jeffrey W. Legro

Political Science Faculty Publications

The current ferment in Soviet military doctrine has led to uncertainty and debate over its implications. On one hand, Gorbachev's peaceful rhetoric, backed by force reductions, is competing with the Bolshoi's ballerinas for favorable Western press reviews. Public opinion-and many public officials-perceive a reduced military threat from the Soviet army. On the other hand, skeptics believe that recent doctrinal changes are compatible with a modernized, more efficient Soviet military machine. In their view, the Soviet army is definitely changing, but the threat will not. A review of the operational implications of the new Soviet security themes indicates that neither the …

Winning The Presidency: The Vision And Values Approach, Joshua H. Sandman

Political Science Faculty Publications

This paper will deal with the presidential election contest. It will suggest, based on research on the presidential election process, that the presidential candidate who best articulates, verbally and symbolically, the visions and values most traditional to American society, of the broadest section of the middle class, will win the presidental election. The results of the 1988 presidential election affirm the soundness of this thesis.

Voting in a presidential election is influenced by numerous forces. This visions and values concept, to be more fully discussed below, appears to have emerged, however, over the past two decades as a decisive element …

Constraining Ground Force Exercises Of Nato And The Warsaw Pact, Robert D. Blackwill, Jeffrey W. Legro

Political Science Faculty Publications

Confidence and security building measures (CSBMs) have long been the neglected stepchild of serious arms control analysis. Some view CSBMs as "arms control junk food," frivolous, unworkable, or even detrimental. Others are so enamored of the concept that they expect proposals to be accepted as prima facie desirable. After all, the very term "confidence and security" connotes stability and peace. The problem with both positions is often the dearth of hard analysis in support of the ideas put forward and the abstract nature of the discussions of "security building." As witnessed in the contrast between the quiet success of the …

Soviet Crisis Decision‐Making And The Gorbachev Reforms, Jeffrey W. Legro

Political Science Faculty Publications

The Soviet Union led by President Mikhail Gorbachev has widely heralded the adoption of a new military doctrine which posits war prevention as its fundamental goal. Yet, as Akhromeyev acknowledges in the above quote, a reliable defence, or preparation for war, is also essential. What is not acknowledged, let alone resolved, is that the two desired goals - prevention and preparation - may come into sharp conflict, especially in a super-power crisis. Prevention of war may make it necessary to defer actions which ready forces for battle or reduce their vulnerability. If war appears likely, however, pressures will arise to …