The Soviet Academy of Sciences and the Communist Party, 1927-1932

No other research organization dominates the field of science in its country to the degree that the Soviet Academy of Sciences does. The coming to power of the Bolsheviks in 1917 presented Russian science with a new governmental attitude toward the place of science in national life. The Soviet Union's first five-year plan, the period of this study, was the crucial period for the Academy. During this time the Academy was transformed. Between 1927 and 1932 important decisions were reached by Soviet leaders concerning the organization, control, and planning of science; the role of science in the national economy, the position of the individual scientist, and the nature of scientific research itself. Originally published in 1967. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. PREFACE CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS PRECEDE CHAPTER I CHAPTER I. The Imperial Inheritance The characteristics of Russian science The Imperial Academy of Sciences Revolution CHAPTER II. Soviet Strategies for Scientific Development Base and superstructure The unity of theory and practice The planning of science The planning system for science CHAPTER III. The Siege of the Academy The call for a new charter The 1927 charter Elections of new members The finale CHAPTER IV. The Seizure of the Academic Structure The purge Reorganization of the Academy The 1930 charter Graduate study in the Academy Rise of Commimist Party strength in the Academy CHAPTER V. The New Direction Liquidation and amalgamation of existing institutions Creation of new institutions Reorganization of KEPS into SOPS The new academic atmosphere Political influences on the Academy The submission of the Academy to planning The problem of overall coordination of Soviet science CHAPTER VI. A New Science? The fate of socialist science The planning of science The reform of the Academy Creativity and freedom SUPPLEMENT. Major Institutions and Research Work, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1932 APPENDIX A. Abbreviations Used in the Text APPENDIX B. Organizational Chart, Academy of Sciences, December 1926 APPENDIX C. Organizational Chart, Academy of Sciences, December 1932 APPENDIX D. Membership, Academy of Sciences, 1932 BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX No other research organization dominates the field of science in its country to the degree that the Soviet Academy of Sciences does. The coming to power of the Bolsheviks in 1917 presented Russian science with a new governmental attitude toward the place of science in national life. The Soviet Union's first five-year plan, the period of this study, was the crucial period for the Academy. During this time the Academy was transformed. Between 1927 and 1932 important decisions were reached by Soviet leaders concerning the organization, control, and planning of science; the role of science in the national economy, the position of the individual scientist, and the nature of scientific research itself. Originally published in 1967. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905