Swords into ploughshares: co-operation in conversion

Converting military technologies and manufacturing to meet civilian needs is beset with many difficulties as the rationale for the two are very different. The problem gets compounded in countries where the political and economic systems underwrite military manufacturing over other national priorities. This is what is happening now in the countries formed out of the former Soviet Union. In a single step, they are trying to convert military–industrial complexes into civilian manufacturing units and also transform the centrally commanded economy into a market driven and delegated one. Results available up until now of this Russian experiment are disappointing: appropriate civilian technologies and their market demands are not easily seen; there are no links connecting vendors, designers, manufacturers and the market. The only institution that can help in this impasse is the Design Bureau. This is a unique institution created by the Soviets for integrating various partners working in technology design, development and manufacturing. Though resented by many partners, the bureaux have worked satisfactorily in the past, and provided the technological expertise and manufacturing strength. It is suggested that this institution should be revived to integrate the various components of Russian manufacturing, taking care to replace the authoritarian structure of the bureau by a collaborative one. Among the institutions available today in Russia, the Design Bureaux are the only ones that appear capable of effecting Conversion among the many military–industry complexes of that country.