| ID | 102836 |
| Title Proper | Russia's new look army reforms and Russian foreign policy |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Lannon, Gregory P |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In December 2009 the first stage of an ambitious military reform of the Russian Federation's army was implemented: the former Soviet, and post-Soviet, four-tiered command structure: military district-army-division-regiment, was replaced with a three tiered command structure: military district-army-brigade. In this process, the brigade replaced the division as the primary tactical unit in the Russian army, and most "cadre-strength" units, partially manned divisions which would be brought up to full strength with reservists in wartime, were eliminated as well. These reforms effectively put an end to the mass-mobilization army that formed the basis of the Tsarist Army and its Soviet and Russian successors since 1874. These reforms are obviously of enormous military importance, but they may also provide insight into how Russia's elites perceive external and internal threats to the Russian Federation, and how Russia currently fits into the contemporary world community. In this light, these reforms may provide support for Russian adoption of a more regionally based-and less global-foreign policy, one that is focused more on what Russian diplomats refer to as "Southern" threats than either possible threats from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the West or the Peoples Republic of China to the East. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Slavic Military Studies Vol. 24, No. 1; Jan-Mar 2011: p26-54 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Slavic Military Studies Vol. 24, No. 1; Jan-Mar 2011: p26-54 |
| Key Words | Russian Federation's army ; Russian army ; Tsarist Army ; North Atlantic Treaty Organization ; NATO ; Russia - Foreign Policy ; Russia ; Army ; Military |