Russian Armed Forces in Transition : Economic, Geopolitical and Institutional Uncertainties

Although the role of the military in Russia has changed significantly since Soviet times, it continues to exert great influence on Russian politics, economy and society. This book presents a comprehensive overview of current developments related to Russia’s military sector. It considers recent military reforms, personnel issues, the defence industry and procurement, the defence economy, changes in civil-military relations, and the continuing huge economic significance of Russia’s military-industrial complex. It explores difficulties currently faced by the Russian military, including problems of recruitment and leadership; analyses Russian security policy - including in relation to Europe and more widely; and discusses the lessons learned by the Russian military as a result of the recent war in Georgia. The book argues that reform attempts have often been thwarted by bureaucracy, economy, strategy, manpower, weapon systems and leadership. The book concludes by assessing likely future developments.

Roger N. McDermott is a Senior Fellow in Eurasian Military Studies, The Jamestown Foundation, Washington, DC; and Senior International Research Fellow for the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), USA. His most recent book is The Reform of Russia’s Conventional Armed Forces: Problems, Challenges and Policy Implications. Bertil Nygren is Associate Professor of Political Science at the Swedish National Defence College and at the Department of Political Science, Stockholm University. Recent publications include The Rebuilding of Greater Russia: Putin’s Foreign Policy towards the CIS Countries, and, as co-editor, Russia and Europe: Building Bridges, Digging Trenches (both published by Routledge). Carolina Vendil Pallin heads the Russia Research Project at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). Her publications include Russian Military Reform: A Failed Exercise in Defence Decision Making (Routledge, 2009).