Imperfect Equilibrium : Civil-Military Relations in Russian Defense Policymaking / Kirill Shamiev.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shamiev, Kirill.

Series:

New perspectives on Eastern Europe and Eurasia

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civil-military relations--Russia (Federation).

Civil-military relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (288 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

2026.

New York : Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2026.

Summary:

Despite years of attempts to improve its military capabilities, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 revealed a crippling lack of skill, discipline and equipment. Non-material factors, in particular the power struggle between military and civilian leaderships, have hindered reform of its armed forces: with officers dominating defense policy, the Kremlin has struggled to implement the necessary changes. Kirill Shamiev explores the political reasons behind Russia's poor military preparedness for the war in Ukraine. He demonstrates how a seemingly obedient military has frequently blocked civilian reforms, taking advantage of weak oversight mechanisms. The Kremlin's efforts to centralize control and make the armed forces personally accountable to President Vladimir Putin harmed institutional learning, cementing a conservative civil-military status quo. While this protected the military from civil society interference and ensured Putin's autocratic rule, it ultimately limited the pace and scope of change. Analyzing three cases of reform between 2000 and 2021, Imperfect Equilibrium offers critical insights into the relationship between civilian control and military effectiveness in Russia. Drawing on extensive qualitative and quantitative evidence - including interviews, parliamentary speeches, media reports and surveys - it shows how unchecked autonomy can undermine military development, even in authoritarian contexts.

Why has Russia's military struggled to adapt to the challenges of contemporary warfare?.

Contents:

Introduction

1. Russian Civil-Military Relations after the USSR

2. Civil-Military Relations and Russian Military Culture

3. Winds of Change? Russian Military Development in 2000-7

4. From Combat Effectiveness to Oversight Overload: Russia's Military Development in 2007-21

5. Russian Civil-Military Relations and the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

Conclusion: The Tug-of-War in Russia's Civil-Military Relations.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-786319-1

9780197870587

OCLC:

1586551085