ARMS NEGOTIATIONS, THE SOVIET ECONOMY, AND DEMOCRATICALLY INDUCED DELUSIONS

In: Contemporary economic policy: a journal of Western Economic Association International, Band 4, Heft 4, S. 22-37

Abstract

It is widely assumed that weak economic performance in the Soviet Union provides motivation for Soviet leaders to pursue arms negotiations in good faith. This paper argues that the reality is quite the opposite. For both political and economic considerations, the weak economy of the Soviet Union generates incentives for the Soviets to use arms control negotiations to achieve military advantages rather than to limit arms.