The Soviet civilian leadership and the military high command, 1976-1986

"This report charts the stormy course of high-level Soviet civil-military relations from 1976 to 1986; and it assesses the sources, dynamics, and implications of the policy debates and political conflicts that have occurred between members of the civilian leadership and members of the high command. In particular, the study examines the civil-military tensions generated by escalating disagreements over doctrine and resource allocations and the ways in which these tensions have influenced and been influenced by factional struggles and personnel changes within both the civilian leadership and the high command. It also seeks to determine whether the severe tensions of the past decade are temporary aberrations or whether they are likely to persist--and, if they persist, what that might portend by way of continuity or change in Soviet policies and priorities."--Rand abstracts.