Date of Award

6-1-2011

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Organizational Unit

Josef Korbel School of International Studies

First Advisor

Jonathan Adelman, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Luc Beaudoin

Third Advisor

James M. Smith

Keywords

Demographics, North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO, Nuclear weapons, Russia, Far east, Russian military doctrine

Abstract

The Russian Federation‘s reliance on nuclear weapons for national security will steadily increase over time. Based on current evidence and historical data, the Russian state will be unable to recruit, arm, train, equip, reform, and fund their conventional forces well enough to match up with capabilities of what it views to be its potential adversaries. Russia‘s historic experience with invasion and vulnerable geographic position reinforce the need for a powerful weapon with which to maintain the current regime and ensure its territorial integrity. Declining demographics and persistent social illnesses will reduce the number of eligible male candidates able to serve in the military. Also, Russia‘s leaders perceive a threat environment in which there are persistent threats to the existence of the Russian Federation. Finally, nuclear weapons provide a relatively cheap and effective weapon that possesses massive destructive capability, is easily deployable, and demands respect from any potential adversary.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Adam J. Lukszo

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

136 p.

Discipline

International relations, East European studies

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