Soviet Leadership Politics and Leadership Views On The Use of Military Force

摘要

The Soviet military doctrinal writings concerning war initiation emphasize the value of preemptive attacks in force carried through to the complete defeat of the enemy. The question is, 'Would this military doctrine agree with the desires of their political leadership as they contemplated the imminent initiation of a war' An examination of the histories of the various Soviet political leaders reveals a recurrent pattern. A dominent leader is replaced by a small group of collegial successors which, in turn, devolves into an intense competition ending only when one competitor has clearly established dominance. In the dominant leader phase, and in the early days of the collegial competition phase, the aspirants to the top position attempt to enhance their power by building and maintaining a coterie of proteges, at their opponents' expense.