Assessing Russia's decline trends and implications for the United States and the U.S. Air Force - Oliker, Olga (Rand, 2002)
"Prepared for the United States Air Force.". - "MR-1442-AF"--Page 4 of cover
Includes bibliographical references (pages 127-136)
PREFACE; CONTENTS; FIGURES; SUMMARY; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; Chapter One INTRODUCTION: STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF RUSSIA'S DECLINE; Chapter Two REGIONAL AUTONOMY OR INCREASED CENTRALIZATION?; Chapter Three THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY; Chapter Four RUSSIA'S POLITICAL FUTURE: WHITHER DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM?; Chapter Five THE PEOPLE OF RUSSIA: ASSET OR LIABILITY?; Chapter Six THE RUSSIAN MILITARY; Chapter Seven WEAK LINKS: ROAD, RAIL, AND NUCLEAR POWER; Chapter Eight ILLUSTRATIVE SCENARIOS; Chapter Nine NEXT STEPS: PLANNING FOR AND PREVENTING CONTINGENCIES; Chapter Ten THE AIR FORCE ROLE; SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Continuing trends toward military, political, economic, and social decline in Russia threaten the interests of the United States and its allies. Moscow?s capacity to govern is called into question by increasing crime and corruption (and by political and economic regionalization). Both the military nuclear arsenal and the civilian nuclear power sector present risks of materials theft or diversion, as well as of tragic accident. An increasingly aging and ailing population bodes ill for Russia?s future. Reversing the country?s economic decline and rebuilding an effective military have proven