The very title of this monograph is quite ambiguous. On the one hand, only 3 years are left until the 21st century. This is too short a time to forecast or propose any serious change in a huge and complicated organization like the armed forces of a great power. On the other hand, each century lasts 100 years, and without a crystal ball it is impossible to predict the evolution of armed forces over such a long period, least of all at a time of dynamic and revolutionary shifts in the world's technologies, economics, the geopolitical scene, and the relative military balance between nations. Hence, in addressing the prospects for Russia's armed forces, it seems realistic to discuss the future some 10-15 years ahead, to 2010. This is an appropriate timeframe for the fulfillment of large cycles of economic and military development in Russia and in other major states. It allows consideration of the possible realignment of principal international coalitions, and it provides time to implement major weapons programs. Accordingly, with a timeframe of 10-15 years, future trends are sufficiently imbedded in present reality to be discussed without entering the world of science fiction. Present policy choices may tangibly affect developments in 10-15 years. Besides, as presently being considered, the Russian military reform initiative is planned to proceed through its first two stages through the year 2005. What happens in that process will define how the Russian military proceeds from 2005 through 2010, the third stage of the reform initiative. Within this temporal framework, the following monograph discusses Russia's military alternatives appropriate to its new security requirements, projected economic conditions, technological capabilities, and possible changes in the international situation which might affect Russia and its relationship with other major powers. Even at that, many issues relevant to the subject, like industrial and financial projections, problems of defense conversion, possible advances in military technology, demographic considerations, the draft and mobilization, have to be left out or discussed only superficially. All of these issues are part of the comprehensive notion of military reform; something larger than the narrow notion of reforming the armed forces. In this monograph, based strictly on unclassified sources, the latter topic will be the subject of analysis.

This work attempts to clarify the major problems facing Russia's armed forces in the present and immediate future. It covers threats from terrorists, break away republics and threats from outside Russia's borders. The book also includes political and economic problems facing the military.

Russia Military Strategy, Impacting 21st Century Reform and Geopolitics For the past ten years, as Prime Minister and President, Vladimir Putin has led an extensive reorganization and reequipping of his country's armed forces. Further, he has taken several opportunities to reclaim Russian territory that was taken, from his perspective, illegally. This book describes Putin and the military's use of various strategic concepts, the Defense Ministry's new equipment and reform initiatives, and Putin's geopolitical quest for influence in the Arctic and Ukraine. Included in the discussion are some of the unintended consequences of his actions (negative world opinion, sanctions, NATO responses, etc.). Why buy a book you can download for free? We print the paperback book so you don't have to. First you gotta find a good clean (legible) copy and make sure it's the latest version (not always easy). Some documents found on the web are missing some pages or the image quality is so poor, they are difficult to read. If you find a good copy, you could print it using a network printer you share with 100 other people (typically its either out of paper or toner). If it's just a 10-page document, no problem, but if it's 250-pages, you will need to punch 3 holes in all those pages and put it in a 3-ring binder. Takes at least an hour. It's much more cost-effective to just order the bound paperback from Amazon.com This book includes original commentary which is copyright material. Note that government documents are in the public domain. We print these paperbacks as a service so you don't have to. The books are compact, tightly-bound paperback, full-size (8 1/2 by 11 inches), with large text and glossy covers. 4th Watch Publishing Co. is a HUBZONE SDVOSB. https: //usgovpub.com

This edited volume explores and analyses strategic thinking, military reform and adaptation in an era of Asian growth, European austerity and US rebalancing. A significant shift in policy, strategy and military affairs is underway in both Asia and Europe, with the former gaining increasing prominence in the domain of global security. At the same time, the world’s powers are now faced with an array of diverse challenges. The resurgence of great power politics in both Europe and Asia, along with the long term threats of terrorism, piracy and sustained geopolitical instability has placed great strain on militaries and security institutions operating with constrained budgets and wary public support. The volume covers a wide range of case studies, including the transformation of China’s military in the 21st century, the internal and external challenges facing India, Russia’s military modernization program and the USA’s reassessment of its strategic interests. In doing so, the book provides the reader with the opportunity to conceptualize how strategic thinking, military reform, operational adaptation and technological integration have interacted with the challenges outlined above. With contributions by leading scholars and practitioners from Europe and Asia, this book provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of strategic and operational thinking and adjustment across the world. This book will be of much interest to students of military and strategic studies, security studies, defence studies, Asian politics, Russian politics, US foreign policy and IR in general.

This book is divided into three parts. Part one addresses President Vladimir Putin's personality, Russian methods of developing strategy, and the Russian thought process for evaluating military affairs (forecasting, correlation of forces, forms, and methods of thought). Part two addresses the nature of future war, focusing on future war's new weapons and organizations (to include aerospace, robotics, electronic warfare equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles, among other pieces of equipment) and the DARPA-like organizations that have been created to increase Russia's focus on science and technology developments. Part three address geopolitics, in particular the Russian militarization of the Arctic and the rationale behind their operations in Ukraine. All three parts help analysts in their attempts to uncover the vector (s) in which Russian military capabilities and actions are heading. The nation's theorists have absorbed lessons learned from the contemporary conflicts of others and placed increased focus on the development of new technologies to protect their national interests and attain specific strategic goals.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Russian armed forces. For many in the West, and within NATO in particular, the Russian military of today has come to represent far more of a threat than at any time since the end of the Cold War. A once moribund force manned by inept conscripts using dilapidated equipment is now seen in a different light. The Putin-inspired modernisation programme of recent years has seemingly created a more effective armed forces better able to serve the Kremlin's growing strategic interests, not just within, but also beyond the boundaries of the former Soviet space. Russian sabres are being rattled with confidence and they are inspiring apprehension and fear. But just what degree of 'threat' does the Russian military of today in fact represent? Just what are its capabilities? How potent is it? This book seeks answers. And it seeks answers across the entire spectrum of Russian military structures. Uniquely, this book examines all facets of this military's capabilities from the combat potential of its conscripts all the way up to the effectiveness of its nuclear triad. And it does so, moreover, while being mindful of the context created by the limits imposed by the actual efficacy of military force as a tool of statecraft in the 21stcentury. This book will be of much interest to students of military studies, Russian politics, defence studies and IR in general, as well as professional practitioners and policymakers.

Introduction: Russian Foreign Policy in the 21st Century-- R.E.Kanet History, Russia and the West, and Cold Wars-- P.Shearman Aims and Means in Russian Foreign Policy-- I.Oldberg Russian Modernization Pathways: Foreign Policy Implications-- G.Herd Assessing Russia's 'Soft Power' in a Globalising World-- V.Rukavishnikov Russia and Georgia: From Confrontation to War. What is Next?-- B.Nygren EU as Peace Mediator in Georgia: Success or Failure?-- T.Forsberg Russia's new 'Monroe Doctrine'-- M.Skak Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus after the Georgia Conflict-- C.E.Ziegler Medvedev's 'Fourteen Points': Russia's Proposal for a New European Security Architecture-- N.Lomagin From the 'New World Order' to 'Resetting Relations': Two Decades of U.S.-Russian Relations-- R.E.Kanet Russia, NATO Enlargement, and 'Regions of Privileged Interests'-- J.Berryman Revising the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy: The Eastern Partnership and Russia-- J.DeBardeleben EU, Russia, Energy: Cooperation or Conflict?-- S.Nies Conclusion-- R.E.Kanet.

At the turn of the second millennium, Koreans face multiple challenges at home and abroad. South Korea is still in the throes of democratisation and economic reforms, while North Korea faces food shortages and other economic difficulties. The two Koreas need to manage the unification process so as to bring about national harmony and promote economic prosperity. The Korean people need to devise a new security strategy for a unified Korea to ensure its survival and independence in the early 21st century. This collection is divided into three parts, and each addresses an important issue area confronting the Korean people in the 21st century. Part I examines South Korea's democratisation and economic reforms against the backdrop of the East Asian financial crisis. Part II discusses the problems and prospects for inter-Korean relations and the characteristics of North Korea's foreign policy behaviour. Part III analyses South Korea's security relations with the four major powers at the turn of the new millennium. All chapters are written by renowned experts in their fields and offer valuable insights into the dynamics of the two Korean's domestic politics and foreign policy.