Country survey XVI the defence sector in the economy of a declining superpower: Soviet Union and Russia, 1965-2001

The Soviet Union was able to develop a large military-industrial complex and become the world's second superpower despite deficiencies in its centrally planned economy because defence was given high priority status and special planning, rationing and administrative mechanisms were used to attain national security objectives. However, in the period 1976-85 the effectiveness of priority protection diminished and defence institutions experienced more of the problems typical of the shortage economic system. The heavy defence burden also created growing difficulties for the civilian economy. The attempts by the Gorbachev government to reform the defence sector and improve defence-economic relationships during perestroika (1985-91) uniformly failed. For most of the transition period, the Russian military-industrial complex has been adversely affected by its low priority status, cuts in defence spending, instability of the hybrid politico-economic system, and negative growth of the economy. The armed forces and defence industry have been reduced in size and their outputs of military services and equipment have fallen to low levels. Nevertheless, the Russian armed forces still have over one million troops, significant stocks of sophisticated conventional weapons, and a large nuclear arsenal. The government of President Putin has raised the priority of the defence sector, increased real defence spending, and adopted ambitious plans to revive Russian military power. It is likely, though, that tight resource constraints will hamper efforts to reform the armed forces and to upgrade weapons. By 2010 Russia will be an important, but not dominant, military power in Eurasia.     

THE ORIGINS OF AND PROSPECTS FOR RUSSIAN NUCLEAR DOCTRINE

This article explores Russia's increasing reliance on nuclear weapons from three perspectives. First, it seeks to demonstrate that the phenomenon is not exclusively limited to Russia and represents a broader trend, which is ultimately rooted in the nature of the contemporary international system or, more precisely, the uncertainties of the transitional period between the Cold War system and a new emerging one. Second, it analyzes the role assigned to nuclear weapons in Russia's doctrinal documents, in particular the emergence of a new mission—limited-use of nuclear weapons to deter or, if deterrence fails, to de-escalate large-scale conventional conflicts. Discussions of the new doctrine, which have begun recently, suggest that this new mission will likely remain unchanged. Finally, this article looks at the apparent discrepancy between Russia's nuclear modernization programs and the roles assigned to nuclear weapons in the military doctrine, as well as the causes of that discrepancy.     

CALLING FOR ACTION

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards are under more stress today than at any time in their history. Compliance concerns, a shortage of resources and technology, and growing responsibilities threaten to undermine the effectiveness and credibility of this vital and fundamental pillar of the nonproliferation regime. To address this challenge, the United States recently launched the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to ensure the IAEA makes the fullest possible use of its existing authority to prevent the diversion of safeguarded material and to investigate suspicious activities. The initiative will advance state-of-the-art technology, foster the development of a new generation of safeguards experts, and promote technology collaborations and safeguards-conscious infrastructure in states using or pursuing nuclear power. Although it has a domestic focus, the initiative's intent is to catalyze a much broader commitment to international safeguards in partnership with other governments and the IAEA.     

I DESIRE,THEREFORE I PROLIFERATE

It is rare to find a well-formulated study that describes the behavioral aspects of leadership in the political realm. Even more infrequent is a combined study of individual behaviors as it applies to a large techno-political issue such as nuclear proliferation. India, Argentina, Australia, and France are used as cases for application of a national identity conception model. The model is based on two dimensions, solidarity and status, that when combined, result in a leader's identification with other nations’ abilities to be a player in the nuclear arms community. While the work is behavioral in context, there is no effort to avoid the technological side of proliferation, so as to provide a balanced review of a complex issue.     

国防工程智能信息系统效能评估研究

在简要介绍国防工程智能信息系统组成和功能的基础上,提出了系统效能评估指标体系,分别用BP神经网络和AHP法建立了国防工程智能信息系统效能评估模型,并对系统的设备监控管理能力进行了评估。仿真结果表明,BP神经网络法克服了传统评估方法精度低、模型复杂和计算量大的缺点,可将以往的专家经验知识进行分析学习,能够实现实时方便的在线评估;AHP法对多层次的指标体系具有较强的处理能力,但是存在指标权重确定主观性强,计算量大的问题。     

谈如何提高计算机等级考试通过率

武警学院的计算机公共基础课要真正做到与全国计算机等级考试接轨,就必须在教、管、学三方面进行改革,要着重探讨学习程序设计课程的几种有效方法,以提高学员学习效率,使学员不但能掌握大纲要求的教学内容,而且能顺利通过全国计算机等级(二级)考试。     

科学认识江泽民的“四个尊重”思想

江泽民的"四个尊重"思想具有丰富的理论内涵和重要意义。这一思想体现了新一代中国共产党人以人为本、执政为民的科学理念,以及尊重人、理解人、关心人、爱护人、发展人的亲民思想,是对传统人本思想的继承和发展。深入贯彻落实这一思想,对于充分调动全党和全国人民的积极性、主动性和创造性,最大限度的实现社会主义建设力量的整合和发挥,有着重大而深远的现实意义。     

反导防御与反导条约

以美国国家导弹防御计划为背景对美、俄所签订的反导条约作了分析 ,其中包括条约要点、条约修改和发展 ,从“修约”到单方“退约”等 ,最后对美退出反导条约背景及影响作了结论     

战区导弹防御(TMD)和国家导弹防御(NMD)

概述了弹道导弹防御的发展,弹道导弹防御系统的分类.对战区导弹防御系统和国家导弹防御系统及其所用拦截武器进行了综合介绍.     

Bourdieu’s capital and insurgent group resilience:a field-theoretic approach to the polisario front

The conflict between the rebel group, the Polisario Front, and the Kingdom of Morocco is nearing its 43rd year. Though under-reported, the conflict itself garners attention for the resilience – some would say tenacity – of the ethnically Sahrawi Polisario Front. Despite shifting regional and international politics and the nearly 150,000 Sahrawi refugees waiting in nearby Algerian camps, the rebel group has survived. What explains its resilience? This article uses Bourdieu’s ‘forms of capital’ to understand the Polisario Front’s persistence. Based on field research in Algeria, Western Sahara, and the United States, it finds that social, cultural, symbolic, and economic capital may provide an explanation.