战略与国际研究中心-Moscows-Military-Malaise_2页_19kb

Moscow's Military Malaise Summary

Core Content

The article "Moscow's Military Malaise" by Theodore Gerber and Sarah Mendelson discusses the deteriorating state of Russia's military, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction among the Russian public and the implications of this decline for both Russia and its international partners.

Main Issues

• Military Decline: Russia's military has experienced significant disarray, disintegration, and poverty, marking a sharp contrast to its former prestige as a key component of the Soviet Union.
• Public Perception: Trust in the Russian military has drastically fallen, with only about 50% of Russians expressing confidence in the army today.
• Prestige Decline: The profession of being a soldier is now considered one of the least prestigious in Russia.
• Emotional Response: Russians express fear, anguish, and shame regarding the state of their military, with many concerned about its ability to protect the country.
• Conscription Problems: The conscription system is seen as a root cause of many military issues, with some participants describing it as "slave labour."
• Call for Reform: There is a strong public demand for the professionalisation of the military, with 65% of those under 50 and 70% of males under 30 supporting a contract-based system.
• Obstacles to Reform: The ongoing conflict in Chechnya is a major obstacle, as it serves the interests of a small group of entrenched officers and hinders progress towards reform.

Key Information

• Survey Findings: Recent surveys and focus groups reveal that Russians are deeply frustrated with the military's condition.
• Conscription Criticism: The system is criticized for its lack of motivation and for creating a culture of brutality and corruption.
• Economic Impact: The military's decline is not just a national issue but has repercussions on international peacekeeping and counter-terrorism efforts.
• Political Leverage: The authors suggest that Western leaders can influence reform by working with the Putin administration to address Chechnya and promote military reform.
• Historical Context: There was a brief interest in military reform in Russia in 1997, but discussions on this topic have largely stagnated since then.

Conclusion

The article emphasizes that the Russian military's decline is a critical issue that affects not only Russia but also its allies in the West. It calls for urgent reform, arguing that the current conscription system is unsustainable and that the benefits of a professional military outweigh the costs. The authors suggest that political and military leaders in the West can play a constructive role in encouraging reform, especially by addressing the Chechen conflict and reinvigorating discussions on military modernization and professionalisation.