The Political Economy of Soviet Defence Spending

Economic considerations have become more central to an understanding of how Soviet leaders decide how much of the nation's resources should be allocated to meet security objectives. In the light of this, R.T. Maddock analyzes the interrelationship between economic and military outcomes in the Soviet Union. Poor economic performance and increasing intensity of competing civilian demands pushes the defense burden to high and increasing levels. The international environment has also turned adverse. The competition between the military and civilian sectors has emerged as one of the key contentious issues facing the current leadership.