| Summary: | "Reforming Russia's conventional armed forces, modernizing its weapons and equipment, and reorienting its military to suit the needs of the state and the changing nature of modern conflict has been long overdue since the 1990s. Numerous failed attempts to conduct such reform predisposed observers in Russia and internationally to treat with skepticism any renewed efforts to address this issue. In the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008 and the crisis that ensued in NATO-Russia relations, Moscow finally launched a genuine and systemic reform agenda that has changed the face of the Russian armed forces., though its longer-term success remains open to question. The Reform of Russia's Conventional Armed Forces: Problems, Challenges and Policy Implications traces the complex origins of the reform and its numerous twists and assesses the key challenges its faces. Roger N. McDermott examines the obstacles confronting Russian defense planners as they seek to transform the military education system, encourage high standards among the officer corps combined with forming suitable non-commissioned officers, and overcome the weaknesses of the domestic defense industry to facilitate modernization. Moscow's long-term political and economic support will prove necessary, while pursuit of reform is likely to result in a lengthy period of transition for the armed forces. Whether, or to what extent, such challenges are sufficiently resolved by Moscow will determine the Russian states' future capability to project military power, preserve the country's territorial integrity, and validate its claims to "great power" status."--P. [4] of cover.
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