title: The Russian General Staff: Understanding the Military's Decisionmaking Role in a "Besieged Fortress"
abstract: Because of the increasing militarization of Russian foreign policy since 2008, it is important to understand the formal authorities and responsibilities of the Russian General Staff as well as its capacity to influence Russia's national security decisionmaking process. In this report, the authors develop a foundational text for policymakers and warfighters to improve collective understanding of this institution.
journal: RAND Corporation eBooks