The Transformation of Russian Intelligence Community After The Cold War (1991-1993)
The Transformation of Russian Intelligence Community After The Cold War (1991-1993)

Summary/Abstract: The end of the Cold War affected not only international politics but also Russian domestic politics and institutions, including Russian intelligence organizations. Using a comprehensive literature survey and conducting two semi-structured interviews with experts on Russian national security on 18th May 2019, this article examines the transformation of the Russian intelligence community after the Cold War (1991-1993). I argue that the end of the Cold War, the 1991 August Coup particularly, dramatically affected Soviet/Russian intelligence organizations. I also argue that the transformation of the Russian intelligence community took place in three domains: change in the philosophy of Russian intelligence, change in Russian intelligence tradecraft and organizational change within the Russian intelligence community. First, Russian policymakers realized that KGB not only involved the August Coup that accelerated the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics but also failed to predict the end of the Cold war and it operated as an ideological guardian of the Soviet regime instead of an intelligence organization. Second and consequently, these policymakers tried to update and de-ideologize the KGB. Last, the KGB was dissolved, and five new intelligence organizations were founded after the end of the Cold war.

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