SEMINAR WITH ACADEMIC GEOGRAPHERS ON SOVIET UNION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05927A000300190013-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 30, 2005
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 6, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Releasa_ 05/04/21 : CIA-RDP78-05927A000300190013-3
1"V CONFIDENTIAL
6 March 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director, BGI
evl~
THROUGH : Chief, Geography Divisio AI'
SUBJECT : Seminar with Academic Geographers on Soviet Union
1. The following comments are in response to your request that
we suggest a theme that might be appropriate for a seminar between
academic geographers and Agency personnel interested in internal
developments in the USSR.
2. In our contacts with OCI/SRI over the last year, one of the
themes that has come up is that of leadership behavior and domestic
politics in relation to regional influences. Specifically, to what
extent can leadership behavior, particularly on domestic policy
issues, be traced to, or explained by, the regional backgrounds and
commitments of individuals? Is political behavior influenced by a
local "constituency" or specialized local needs or interests?
3. The chief interest of the geographer is probably the
reverse question. To what extent can the investment priorities
for a region be traced to the status or influence of a particular
individual within the political heirarchy rather than to some more
"rational" economic or environmental consideration? Are some areas
of the USSR "more equal than others" in investment priorities, and
if so, why? Does the Russian Republic get more than its share of
the pie in industrial investment, land amelioration projects, or
residential construction? Are there current examples to compare
with the construction of the high cost steel mill at Rustavi in
Georgia during Stalin's day?
4+. We could suggest in our invitation that participants come
prepared to a) comment on the theme -- its validity or worthiness
of further serious consideration, b) add empirical data and cite
cases in point pro or con; c) suggest research approaches.
SET L
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