Title: The modernisation of the Russian military
Description: As one of the institutions of the Russian state that is the most resistant to change, the army continues to hinder any attempt to make substantial alterations to its operational and organizational system, and seems impervious to the changes that have taken place in the political and economic life of the country as well as in its international environment. It still benefits from wide administrative and operational autonomy, especially in the matter of choices that concern it directly - structure of forces, allocation of budget resources, education of command personnel, content of training programmes, etc. Sticking firmly to the structures and strategic plans established during the Cold War, Russian generals have shown little desire to implement reforms that either are not in keeping with their deepest convictions with regard to national security, or, more prosaically, are potentially detrimental to their corporate or personal positions. President Putin has displayed determination to overcome the structural obstacles that his predecessor preferred to skirt round. He has worked to open up the military to outside influences and experience and in parallel to strengthen the control of the political authorities over military matters - including budget issues, education of officers, international cooperation. President Putin may even have envisioned military cooperation with foreign countries as a stimulus to the opening up of the Russian military to new concepts and practices and rejuvenate their vision of the world and of modern warfare. Vladimir Putin's approach has met with numerous setbacks, as the military has resisted, in some cases successfully, his efforts to make military reform move forwards. After downgrading the institutional status of the General Staff, a bastion of resistance to thorough military reform, the civil authorities have enforced reforms of the Ministry of Defence in the autumn of 2004 that are aimed at consolidating their control over the generals. However, as long as the Kremlin does not display determination to establish real civilian control of the military, reform promises to remain as it has been up to now - a hectic process.
Subjects: Armed Forces, Reorganization, Civil supremacy over the military, Military policy, Defenses
Places: Russia (Federation)
People: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (1952-)