ABSTRACT
This chapter examines available literary evidence concerning the Soviet approach to strategic thought, and assesses the related implications for US deterrence theory. The declared Soviet doctrinal focus is in direct variance with the Western mutual vulnerability-derived notion of strategic stability that continues to be the focus of US strategic thought. The Soviets reject the essential tenets of American strategic thought that nuclear war would entail mutual suicide and subsequently cannot serve political goals, and that strategic stability is served by mutual vulnerability. Ideology may be regarded as an important factor contributing to Soviet strategic culture. The role of the military should also be mentioned as a primary factor in Soviet strategic culture. The apparent Soviet perspective on strategic war should affect acquisition and deployment policy. It might be expected that those strategic forces appropriate for limiting damage in war, as opposed to just deterring it, would be reflected in the Soviet force posture.
