E-Book Overview
This monograph provides a concise introduction to the tangled issues of communication between Russian and Western scientists during the Cold War. It details the extent to which mid-twentieth-century researchers and practitioners were able to communicate with their counterparts on the opposite side of the Iron Curtain.
Drawing upon evidence from a range of disciplines, a decade-by-decade account is first given of the varying levels of contact that existed via private correspondence and conference attendance. Next, the book examines the exchange of publications and the availability of one side's work in the libraries of the other. It then goes on to compare general language abilities on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain, with comments on efforts in the West to learn Russian and the systematic translation of Russian work.
In the end, author Christopher Hollings argues that physical accessibility was generally good in both directions, but that Western scientists were afflicted by greater linguistic difficulties than their Soviet counterparts whose major problems were bureaucratic in nature.
This volume will be of interest to historians of Cold War science, particularly those who study communications and language issues. In addition, it will be an ideal starting pointing for anyone looking to know more about this fascinating area.
E-Book Content
SPRINGER BRIEFS IN HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Christopher D. Hollings Scientific Communication Across the Iron Curtain 123 SpringerBriefs in History of Science and Technology More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10085 Christopher D. Hollings Scientific Communication Across the Iron Curtain 123 Christopher D. Hollings Mathematical Institute University of Oxford Oxford UK ISSN 2211-4564 ISSN 2211-4572 (electronic) SpringerBriefs in History of Science and Technology ISBN 978-3-319-25344-2 ISBN 978-3-319-25346-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-25346-6 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015954967 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © The Author(s) 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Dedicated to the memory of Jackie Stedall Abstract Drawing evidence from a range of disciplines, I study the extent to which scientists were able to communicate with their counterparts on the opposite side of what became the Iron Curtain. I consider the scope that existed for personal communication between scientists, as well as for the attendance of foreign conferences, and describe how these changed over the decades. Access to publication