This study attempts to demonstrate that the process of modern weapons system development and acquisition by the Soviet Union has acted as a catalyst in the transformation of the armed forces.

Vita.

Section I.The political culture of Soviet science -- Soviet science and military doctrine in the Stalin era: the monocratic starting point -- Goal specification: Soviet research and development -- Higher education -- Socialization of the Soviet scientist -- Goal specification -- Scientific attitudes and the official ideology -- Section II. The integrative-adaptive process – the nuclear era confronted -- Groups in the Soviet military -- Systemic inputs -- Part III. The integrative-adaptive process: catalytic effects of modern weapons development in transformation of the military cadres -- The party relationship -- Party control and command: Yedinonachalie -- Increased demands on command personnel -- The party and the technocrats -- Military reforms and the conventional forces -- Recruitment and retention -- Rationale for party-political control: the moral factor in war -- Observations -- Section IV. Summary and conclusion -- The secularization of the political culture of Soviet science -- The integrative process: catalytic effect of weapons development.