Scientific, institutional and personal rivalries among Soviet geographers in the late Stalin era

Shaw, D.J.B. and Oldfield, J.D. (2008) Scientific, institutional and personal rivalries among Soviet geographers in the late Stalin era. Europe-Asia Studies, 60(8), pp. 1397-1418. (doi: 10.1080/09668130802292218)

Abstract

Scientific, institutional and personal rivalries between three key centres of geographical research and scholarship (the Academy of Sciences Institute of Geography and the Faculties of Geography at Moscow and Leningrad State Universities) are surveyed for the period from 1945 to the early 1950s. It is argued that the debates and rivalries between members of the three institutions appear to have been motivated by a variety of scientific, ideological, institutional and personal factors, but that genuine scientific disagreements were at least as important as political and ideological factors in influencing the course of the debates and in determining their final outcome.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Russia, history of science, geography, Stalinism
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Oldfield, Dr Jonathan
• Authors: Shaw, D.J.B., and Oldfield, J.D.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General); D History General and Old World > DK Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics; D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D839 Post-war History, 1945 on
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
• Journal Name: Europe-Asia Studies
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0966-8136
• ISSN (Online): 1465-3427
• Published Online: 12 September 2008
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 Taylor & Francis
• First Published: First published in Europe-Asia Studies 60(8):1397-1418
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.