Party Control of Historians in the Novosibirsk Academgorodok (1970)

Abstract

The resolution by the bureau of the Novosibirsk regional committee of the CPSU “On the work of the Institute of History, Philology and Philosophy of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR” dated May 26, 1970 reflects a system intended to control over the activities of academic society, primarily humanitarians. The party considered the scholars, and the historians in particular, as a “fighter” in the ideological battle who had to adhere to the principle of “Marxism-Leninism”, and, in fact, to all official guidelines consistently developed by the CPSU. The focus of this document is scholars who were involved in research projects of political nature. The resolution contains harsh assessments towards a number of “mistake” in the scientific activities of this institution. Among these mistakes the authors of the document mention the lack of adherence to ideological principles, widely spread in the collective of scholars of the Institute of history. Historians from the Institute get a lot of criticism from the CPSU functionaries for the absence of political and organizational public work in the city, and also for week methodological and ideological influence on the other scientific organizations in Academgorodok, as well as on the departments and sections of social sciences in the Novosibirsk universities. On the whole, this reflected a general conservative trend in accordance with the requirements of the CPSU of the 1960-1970s.