ABSTRACT
This chapter explains more precisely Soviet concerns and motivations, and more explicitly the link between domestic economics and nuclear arms control decision making. It looks primarily at the resource-development and resource-allocation part of the problem. The chapter identifies the considerations involved and indicates in a general way the sort of impact that deep reductions in offensive nuclear weapons would likely have on important sectors of the civilian economy. The preceding discussion of the economic aspects of nuclear weapons and strategic defenses focused on the question of resource allocation, although it was noted at the outset that this was only one-half of the picture of economic reform in the USSR. The Central Committee meeting at which Gorbachev presented his report was described by a participant as "emotional". Nevertheless, Gorbachev did not extend a great deal of sympathy to his colleagues who were finding it more difficult than he to make the necessary psychological and ideological transitions.
