Russia's Demographic Crisis and the Military

Download or read book Russia's Demographic Crisis and the Military written by Thomas J. Andrea and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Russia has been experiencing a natural population decline since 1992 and the current demographic trends indicate few signs that this sharp and steady population lose [sic] will abate any time soon. The impact on Russian society, from its economy to security, continues to be the subject of heated and intense discussion and debate. Russia is plagued with a decreasing fertility rate, an increasing mortality rate, a deteriorating health care system, and unbalanced migratory patterns of the populace, each contributing factors to varying degrees on the continued political, economic, and social turmoil the country is facing. This paper examines the various root causes of the demographic crisis analyzing their impact on the society and focuses in particular on the human resource impact and implications affecting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The demographic crisis in Russia limits the policy options available to its political and military leaders and creates havoc for the international community as to how it could and should deal with Russia as a major power on the world stage. The post-September 11th environment requires greater cooperation and alliances among nations to combat a growing number of trans-national and asymmetrical threats such as terrorism, insurgencies, nuclear proliferation, and the trafficking of drugs and people. A strong and stable Russia is a critical component in the on-going efforts of the free world to re-shape the global security landscape to meet the new and emerging threats of the 21st century.