Physics and Politics in Revolutionary Russia / Paul R. Josephson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Josephson, Paul R., author.

Series:

California studies in the history of science ; Volume 7.

California Studies in the History of Science Series ; Volume 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physics--Soviet Union--History--20th century.

Physics.

Physics--Research--Soviet Union--History.

Physics--Political aspects--Soviet Union--History.

Science and state--Soviet Union--History--20th century.

Science and state.

Science--Political aspects--Soviet Union--History.

Science.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xix, 423 p. ) ill. ;

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, California : University of California Press, [1991]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Aided by personal documents and institutional archives that were closed for decades, this book recounts the development of physics--or, more aptly, science under stress--in Soviet Russia up to World War II. Focusing on Leningrad, center of Soviet physics until the late 1930s, Josephson discusses the impact of scientific, cultural, and political revolution on physicists' research and professional aspirations. Political and social revolution in Russia threatened to confound the scientific revolution. Physicists eager to investigate new concepts of space, energy, light, and motion were forced to accommodate dialectical materialism and subordinate their interests to those of the state. They ultimately faced Stalinist purges and the shift of physics leadership to Moscow. This account of scientists cut off from their Western colleagues reveals a little-known part of the history of modern physics.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Plates

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. The Politics of Tsarist Physics

2. The Russian Revolution and the Search for a National Science Policy

3. The Russian Association of Physicists and the Founding of the Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute

4. The Flowering of Soviet Physics: National Achievements and International Aspirations During the New Economic Policy

5. Physics During the First Five-Year Plan: Industrialization and Stalinist Science Policy

6. Cultural Revolution and the Natural Sciences

7. Theoretical Physics: Dramatis Personae

8. Theoretical Physics: Dialectical Materialism and Philosophical Disputes

9. The Great Terror and the Assault on the Leningrad Physics Community

Epilogue

Appendix A: The History and Politics of Soviet Physics

Appendix B: The Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute

Appendix C: Publication

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 397-412) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780520911475

0520911474

9780585078892

0585078890

OCLC:

1163877984