Perestroika and Change in Soviet Weapons ... - The Black Vault

17
policy mari a shap break from early formulation of converdon
methods; however, there is no evidence yet of implmentation of such a
policy.
With the continued planned and centralized orientation of the Soviet
economy, the reduction of military implementation priority-were it to
occur-would require a rooting out of ducads of practice and habit,
beginning at the top-most planning levels, reaching down through Party
cadres and economic managers at the lowest levels. It would mean, for
example, that if aluminum shet were in short supply, it would more probably
end up at a toaster factory than at a MiG air plant. Countless
thousands of daily decisions, made according to powerful institutional
incentives, reinforced by 50 years of habit and experience, would have to
be reshaped according to new priorities. All of the Soviet experience suggests
that, to be effective, such a change in values and policies would
require a massive mobilization campaign, wholesale removal of old cadres
and apointment of replacements, and visible punishments and rewards
to emphasize that the desired performance, on which incentives are
based, had indeed changed.
The most direct source of political pressure has been the Defense
Industry Department of the Central Committee Secretariat, and the
secretary responsible for the department. It is notable that the central
committee departments with economic sector oversight were disbanded
in late 1988, except for the agrarian and defense industry departments.
Gorbachev stressed that the decision to retain these two departments
was necessary at the current stage of reform but that they may easily
be dissolved in the future. 12 The other departments were replaced by
commissions with broad social and political mandates, but often with
seemingly little power. For the moment, then, the Central Committee
secretary and department for defense industry still exist and continue
to wield Party political sanctions over defense industry activities 1
However, the Party secretary for defense industry also has been active
in areas far removed from defense: pollution and environmental issues,
to name just two additional responsibilities. Thus, the content of this
position has been broadened, with presumably less attention being
given to defense-industrial matters.
A new feature in Soviet politics that changes the balance of forces
affecting the resource and implementation priority of defense is the
process of democratization and the emergence of an independent public
2 Alexander Rahr, *Who h in Charp of the Paity Appatus?" Radio Lbmt, Rqomf
on t USK, April 14, I9M, p. 21.
n aditiMon to the Ctral Commite dqiunmet, 42 depertwmes ad 10 fectwm"
hPe, ben p Smd tor dpa. imq io Party wummi Iuieeou TaK
ICP&, Januay 196, p. 90.