ABSTRACT
The relations between the Soviet state, society, and military under Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev contrast in significant ways. This chapter argues that the emergence of an independent public opinion has already had an important effect on Soviet civil-military relations, helping to set in motion a process of demilitarization. It examines the effect of democratization on the militarist or militarized features of Soviet society. The chapter focuses on two of Stanislas Andreski's categories and utilizes the term "demilitarization" with these two dimensions of social life in mind: the subservience of society to military needs; and the inculcation of military ideals. The decision to reinstate student deferments has removed a bone of contention between the military and the intelligentsia. In spite of the robust criticisms the issue of military reform has not gone away. The General Staff is deluged with letters about military reform, and civilian critics have challenged the objections to reform that the military leaders have raised.
