Soviet Science Policy in the Years of the 'Late Stalinism' (second half of 1940s - beginning of 1950s): Markers and Metamorphoses

After the end of the WWII science policy as a system set of goals and tasks directed on utilisation of science products for implementing state priorities, and actions focused on their achievement was de facto missing in the country with the exception of key defence tasks where application of research was more systematic. Science and technology development was determined by a combination of specific branch politics which were often based on different conceptual platforms and did not have a fundamental science background. Basic research, contrary to equipment production and technology, did not belong to the state priorities up to the middle of 1950s. Meanwhile, the analysis of the political process and existing practices allows outlining some markers of science 'proto-policy'. Three elements/ aspects are basically used for structuring such an analysis - these are economic, ideological and organisational aspects. After the end of the war changes in the economic elements of science policy included some increase of funding and, specifically, substantial rise of salaries of scientists. In addition to that, the principle of overwhelming state planning was extended to science and technology. Ideological aspects of science 'proto-policy' fully reflected contradictions and conflicts of the epoch and negatively impacted the sphere of science. Ideological campaigns hampered the development of science, distorted the natural logics of evolution of knowledge, changed psychological climate and atmosphere in the scientific community and stimulated penetration of bureaucratic principles of management to science. In organisational respect science was not yet considered as an integrated subject of management and that was reflected in the administration structure since there was not a single state body responsible for research. In the meantime, substantial transformations in organization of military science started as early as in the years of the WWII. They were based on change of accents referring to science in favour of setting up there a full cycle 'research-equipment-technology-production' which later impacted both military and civilian sectors of economics. The experience of R&D coordination in the sphere of military technology, although accessible to a very limited number of people, was very meaningful for the development of science and technology as a whole. Evidently, it demonstrated the necessity of introduction of a single science and technology cycle and elaboration of not merely a technological policy, but rather of a science and technology policy for the solution of the most important military and economic tasks. This, however, became a peculiarity of the next historical period.

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