THE ROLE OF GEOGRAPHY IN SOVIET SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CIA/RR G/I 59-23B. (ORR PROJECT 60.1761)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00680R000200190057-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 2, 1998
• Sequence Number: 57
• Publication Date: March 20, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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Contribution of the Geographic Research Area, ORR, to
14IE 11-6-59
SOVIET SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CIA/RR G/1 59-23b.
(ORR Project 60.1761)
20 March 1959
THIS - AA AL CONTAINS INE+OBMATION AWECTING THE
NATIO! J L ODE ?SE OF THE UNITED STATES 141THII' THE
MANI OF TIE ESPIONAGE LAW A TITLE 18, USC,
SECS. 793 and 794, THE TRINSMISSIOR- OR ffi-MATION
OF WHICH ffi ANY NEf TO AN L AUTHORS PERSON
IS P1 O iTED BY LAW.
'PAL Ia 'EI3,IGENCE AGENCY
Office of Resea. eh ad Reports
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S~E-C-R-E-T
The Hole of GecsMa;~hy ire Soviet Science and Technology
A. Soviet Foreign Policy (Section I-B)
Soviet geographic research on foreign countries is directed towards
basic studies of the various countries of the world in Which all phases
of geography are included regardless of immediate strategic value. Such
studies are producing an increasingly important basis for the development
and implementation of foreign policy.
The geographic sections of ?ll leading Soviet universities and
research institutes emphasize the study of foreign countries. In the
Geographic Faculty of I4oscow University, for example, 3 of the 14
departments are devoted to teaching the geography of other countries,
a fourth to polar geography, and a fifth to oceanography. In the
Institute of Geography of the Academy of Sciences, 2 of the 10 sections
are concerned exclusively with foreign countries, preparing both
country monographs and special studies. Two other institutes in the
Academy of Sciences are engaged in extensive research on areas outside
the Soviet Union. The Institute of Oceanography (together with related
organizations) conducts research on all the oceans of the %vrld and
in at least 17 foreign countries. The Institute of Oriental Studies
includes among its other work i orti nt geographical research.
Soviet publications reflect the increasing world-ride interests
of the Soviet Union. Of particular significance is the growing volume
of pifulications on Southeast An: a, the Bear Feist, and Africa. Publications
range from short, gc nere .zed, popular descriptions of an entire country
t6 ket? filed .studies of p i:Zie branches of the xX and exhaustive
studies of the peoples. All are of basic value in planniflg economic,
cultural, and political penetration. In 1958 alone, more than one-third
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of the space in the to leading Soviet geographic journals was devoted
to-eountries,-other then thb' II R; iid a single mofithly issue of
Eeterativn Zhurnal, Geo ff (Feb 59) included at least 67 references
to books and articles on foreign countries written by Soviet geographers
Soviet geographers have also greatly increased their participation
in international organizations and conferences. In one year alone,
they were represented at the Ninth Pacific Science Congress., the Regional
Conference on the Geography of Asia, and the Second Meeting of Economic
Geographers of Easteznope, and at nor conferences on national
atlases, ornithology., the climate of arid zones.. Afro-Asian geography,
Arctic sea Lee., and geodesy and geophysics. Some 300 Soviet geographers
playa to attend the Nineteenth Congress of the International Geographic
Union in 1960. These activities are evidence of a concerted effort to
overcome a significant weakness on the part of Soviet geographers --
inadequate first-hand knowledge of foreign countries.
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z z,Gu ec. (Sec: l~-icn II?-A)
I. Native Soviet Resources: Scientific Ed-=ation and
TraIRIAS II-A?3.
In the fieli d of geography, uviv ersi ty timining a phasizes bsic
topical disciplines (soils, c ax?t-agr p hys economic teography) and their
practical application,, including an ixceUent summer fieldwork program
in which students participate in research expeditions. The result. is
a constant flow of well-trained geographers Into schools, research
institutions, and goverment age3cies, thus priding a reservoir of
rkers who have detailed regional kxaovledge -and a trained in the
Soviet concepts of regional. economic developixent . T a. large extent
the geography curricula of the universitie determined by the state,
and research is performed on contract for v uiou.; gover :nt ? encies
ties, -- and in the scope
and nature of the program. An analysis o Y co ute Yrq ?r!, + Soviet publica-
tions and naps, and evaluations by competent gc:ographers who
have visited the country and its rfteereh centers in cent years have
demonstrated that goographic training d sca: i in the Soviet Union
today 'are outstanding in entity and giamli y a gel: as in scope of
2. Exploitation of s n-Soviet so :?es . XT-B
The geographic research effort is Im res.-Ive both in its material
and the Satellite countries ha-,,z ra. u .tee in a large number of
close working relations between Sovie '. gtoa ;raphers and those of
y. aint expeditions and jointly p red n rographs _ Geographic and
cartographic work in all bloc count iea, expo-iall Cor unist China,
:reflect Soviet influence.
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An important aspect of the geographic beseaxh..1s the exploitation
of non-Soviet source materials through an elaborately organized
bibliographical effort. The February 1959 edition of Referativnyy
Wiz, Geo ra `i Includes more than T, fit? citations dealing filly
and specifically with ibreign countries gleamed from more than 6W
geographic and nongeographic sou 'ces published throughout the World.
A large proportion of the citations accompanied by resumes, and.
full, copies of all the cited .aerial are available to any interested
researcher.
S-R -R
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C~ strategic. Aspects of Scientific esearoi: Physical Sciences.
Section III-.
For the past two decade-,, organized scientific Attic reseaveh
program has been conducted. in which geographic reseaPeh i:a coordinated with
research to the numerous re x ted fields of physical science. More
recently, emphasis liar shiith^d to the strategic aspects of the Arctic
In 1954 the Arctic Program of the Academy of Sciences was.greatly.expandede
More than 100 polar stations have now been established; numerous exploratory
geologic arxd geodetic field parties are conducting research in the Arctic;
some 20 oceanographic research vessels are in operation in late summer;
and 2 drafting scientific stations are currently collecting, geophysical
data. As a result of scientific resaeex?ch,,improved topographin, geologic,
and geodetic maps of the mainland and hydrographic charts of the Arctic
Seas have been produced. An early start in the amassing of scientific data
gave the Soviet Union an advantage over all other countries, since col-
lection is necessarily a slow process. Disciplines based on long-term
observations -- such as meteorology, ice reconnaissance, and permafrost
investigation have long been studied by the Soviets; and the vast amount
of data that has been collected, processed, and published provides a solid
background for current research.
The IGY provided an additional impetus to the collection of data not
only on the Soviet Union but also on the rest of the world. Over 100
scientific organizations dix? ~d?ted by the Acade- y of Sciences cooperated in
this effort. In the Soviet Arctic, alone, about 60 scientific stations
are now operating. The scope of the Arctic research in disciplines such as
oceanography, glaciology, gc.ome etiss i, ionospheric physics, and seismology
is much more oxtjeneive than that of all other coutries bordering the Arctic
combined.
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During the next 5 to 10 years, -scientific advances of significance
to Arctic research can be expected. The collection of data will certainly
be further automated, and greater aaou .to and now types of information
be anticipated from both drifting and stationary automatic. meteorologic
stations. Atomic-powered icebreakers that can operate in pack lee will
provide opportunities for extending the oceanographic research now per-
formed by drifting stations and high-latitude air expeditions;, and atomic
submarines sailing under the sea ice will facilitate investigations of
marine biology and physical, chemical, and dynamic oceanography.. and
studies of ocean-bottom composition.
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? D. Science and Tech2nology.Supporting the Soviet Economy and Industrial
Development (Section IV_)
1. Resource Develo ent (iv-1)
The Soviet Union, more than any other country of the world, has
capitalized on the results of geographic research in the development of
its internal economy. All of this research is focused on the practical
application of geography, chiefly the acceleration of economic ds've gi.~fat!e3kt
through efficient exploitation of the varied and widespread natural and
human resources of the Soviet Union.. Research of the Institute of
Geography of the Academy of Sciences includes the fields of geomorphology,
climatology, hydrology, biogeography, economic geography, cartography,
and glaciology. Tice main effort of this research is concentrated on two
problems -- maximum utilization of resources that are of current economic
value and means for altering the natural environment to permit utilization
of latent resources.
Of particular interest in this connection is the problem of regionali-
zation. Recognizing that the 12 traditional economic-geographic regions
which have served as the basis for national planning do not adequately
serve current needs and goals, a complete realignment of economic-geographic
regions is being studied. P commission on Working out the Economic Regions
Grid of the USSR was active in the 1955.57 period, a number of special
conferences have been held, and recommendations for changes are now being
considered. These vary from the formation of 24 economic regions with some
specialization and exchange of products ((as approved by the Commission), to
the division-of the nation into 4 large regions that would be economically
autonomous. A decision on a new alignment of regions may be expected
within the next few years.
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In the Arctic, . continued geologie mapping and field exploration .
will probably reveal new mineral deposits. Their exploitation will bring
more people to the Arctic, and new settlements will be established. In
the new settlements, small a lear pe erplants and tidal eleeftie stations
will offer new sources of power. Field surveys ahd construction plans for
tidal. stations have already been completed for some area within the
European Arctic.
2. Transportation (IV-10)
The improved bydrographic charts and be forecasting together with the
use of atomic-powered icebreakers and freighters will increase the navigation
season and freight capacity of the Northern Sea Route, the principal supply
line in the Soviet Arctic.
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H. 1 i I ese h and ve eut abilities:
fey 5urnaortin~
Fields (Section V.2
Current Arctic research is flir ted largely towards strategic
aspects of the area. The large mass of Arctic scientific data, backed
up by years of practical experience in the region, combined with a
permanent population has al ady placed the Soviet Onion in ;a * iquely
advantageous position in planning and conducting military operations
involving under-ice navigation, oL .r guided -missile and aircraft
flights, and related operations auch as .'her forecasting and
control. With further scientific progress, their present preeminence
can not only be maintained but also increased.
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