Did the Party Really Control Soviet Science?

Abstract

This chapter will demonstrate that the Communist Party’s exercise of control over science was not absolute. It will be argued that, as science gained importance in the eyes of the Soviet leadership as an avenue for attaining economic development, science gained prestige and a certain amount of autonomy from the party in its own affairs. How-ever, this autonomy did not mean that scientists were permitted to act within the sphere of state politics. While prominent scientists were able to discuss with the Soviet leadership matters relating to their sphere of competence, they were not permitted to challenge freely the Soviet system at large. Thus, we see a difference in reaction to Sakharov’s influence on nuclear policy versus his influence on the issue of human rights. However, it must be recognized that the boundary of permissible speech granted to scientists appeared to change over time. During the first few years of Khrushchev’s rule, mild forms of dissent were tolerated in the science cities. However, by 1968, the boundary for permissible political dissent became more impenetrable. The limits of dissent were clearly demarcated by the leadership after the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia.