Civil - military relations in post- Soviet Russia: the case of ‘military politicians’

Renz, Bettina (2005). Civil - military relations in post- Soviet Russia: the case of ‘military politicians’. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The issue of Russian politicians with a military background has often been addressed throughout the post-Soviet era, but has rarely been analysed on its own. This thesis provides a systematic study of the role of ‘military politicians’ to further our understanding of this important area of civil-military relations in post-Soviet Russia.

This thesis argues that the role and influence ascribed to such figures has often been overstated due to the theoretical constraints and the normative viewpoints of the civil-military relations concepts and theories of democratic transition, within which the subject of ‘military politicians’ is commonly framed. Identifying and assessing a number of important and previously unexplored areas connected to the subject of ‘military politicians’ in post-Soviet Russia, this thesis contributes to a fuller understanding of the role of such personalities.

The main areas assessed in the thesis are: a) the importance of Russian discourses on ‘military politicians’, which differ considerably from those in the West; b) the precise institutional backgrounds of such personalities in a detailed study of the Russian military system; and c) the interpretation of the role of politicians with a military background in the Russian body politic. Showing that in consideration of these areas the role and influence of politicians with a military background is more modest than often asserted, the thesis concludes by proposing a conceptual approach to the study of civil-military relations and of ‘military politicians’ in post-Soviet Russia.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):