ABSTRACT
The Eurasian geostrategic configuration of Russia/the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its sheer size have contributed to the development of a unilateral tradition in military interventionism on its periphery. A more detailed assessment of the post-war Soviet conduct of military intervention reaffirms the problematic legacy of military and strategic culture. The commitment to protect Russians through military means also can be used to reinforce the Russian military system in the various republics of the Russian Federation. The Russian Ministry and Ministry of Defence has opposed Western involvement in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) or Russian peacekeeping operations and maintained strong operational control over established peacekeeping operations within the former Soviet borders. At a practical level an important debate has also arisen among Russian military commanders on the appropriate training, structure and role for nascent Russian peacekeeping forces in the CIS.
