THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES OF THE STATE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL POLICY OF THE USSR IN THE POSTWAR PERIOD

Abstract

The article investigates certain aspects of one of the current issues of the Russian history, the least studied and discussed at present. On the basis of the analysis of scientific literature and previously unpublished archival documents, attempts to identify the factors that determined the adjustment and essence of the industrial and scientific-technical policy in the postwar period, the essence and results of the reorganization in the management of scientific and technical sphere. We conclude that successful implementation of post-war large-scale projects proves that there was only one possible strategy chosen by the country's leadership. In particular, the postwar geopolitical realities and the need for early recovery and strengthening of the Soviet economy demanded from the Soviet leadership a most pragmatic approach as to the issue of "borrowing". Besides, a strong research and technical complex was formed, and very impressive results were achieved, especially in the defense sphere. However, the study showed that the intensification of scientific and technical research, transformation of science into a determining factor of economic development of the country in those years failed to become a priority. The slowdown and deficiency of control were due to the increasing role of the party apparatus in the state bodies, due to the reorganizations in the system of national economy management, due to the departmental approach and shortcomings in planning, due to the insufficient professionalism of the Soviet leadership.

Keywords

• scientific-technical policy
• recovery period
• scientific potential
• national projects