ABSTRACT
The Mikhail Gorbachev revolution has touched every aspect of Soviet life, and defense policy is no exception. In general, Gorbachev has devoted more attention to institutional restructuring in the economy and the political system than any leaders since Stalin, who constructed the current party apparatus in the 1930s. Gorbachev's view of the world will have a lasting impact on Soviet defense policy. Stephen Larabee has argued that Gorbachev has restructured the Soviet military in order to force new thinking on the ossified structures of the Soviet defense establishment. Understanding the debate about defensive doctrine is made more difficult by the confusing manner in which offense and defense interact in Soviet military thought. The debate that has opened up in the Soviet Union about a defensive doctrine clearly highlights another problem: Civilians face several barriers when attempting to discuss conventional forces that they do not face with nuclear forces.
