«НА МЕСТАХ У ЛЕКЦИОННОГО БЮРО ДОЛЖНЫ БЫТЬ ТАК НАЗЫВАЕМЫЕ ЩУПАЛЬЦЫ»: ИСТОРИЯ СОЗДАНИЯ ЛЕКЦИОННОГО БЮРО ПРИ КОМИТЕТЕ ПО ДЕЛАМ ВЫСШЕЙ ШКОЛЫ
“THE LECTURE BUREAU MUST HAVE SO-CALLED FEELERS ON SITES”: THE HISTORY OF CREATION OF THE LECTURE BUREAU OF THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Summary/Abstract: The paper considers the process of formation of the Lecture Bureau as an element of the Soviet propaganda system in 1940. The purpose of the scientific research is to show the extent of interaction between science and power, as well as scientific and party functionaries in the propaganda network of the 1940s, during the difficult period of the Soviet history. The emphasis is made on the interrelation between the values of scientific community and the political order of power. Considering the history of creation of the Lecture Bureau, it is shown how the political power imposed certain requirements on scientific community and how scientists tried to bring their scientific ideals to life using the tough political order. The paper is based on the category of “cultural memory” introduced by A. Assman. The principles of modern cultural intellectual history allow to rethink the processes of interaction between collective memory and historical thought of the middle of the 20th century. The analysis of the proceedings of meetings and the verbatim records of this organization showed that the authorities tried to involve the activity of professional researchers, scientists, and lecturers in propaganda. Attention is drawn to the reaction of professional corporation: on the one hand, scientists wanted to contribute to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as to realize their lecturing talent and commitment to dissemination of scientific knowledge; on the other hand, they had some skepticism and doubts about the instrumentalization of this action. Conclusions are made about the mechanisms of propaganda campaigns and the features of historical memory.

• Details
• Contents