The Lysenko Affair

About this book

Lysenko was a fanatical agronomist who dominated Soviet genetics and plant science for over 30 years. This book examines the factors which made Lysenko's reign possible and the reasons for its conclusion in 1965.

Contents

Preface

1. Soviet Ideology as a Problem
2. A Crisis of Faith in Science
3. Harmless Cranks
      Michurin
      Lysenko and Other Peasant Scientists
4. Raising Stalin's Hand
      The First Clashes
      Systematic Conflict
5. Stalinist Self-Defeat, 1936-1950
      "Discussion"
      Terror
      The Final "Discussion"
6. Self-Conquest, 1950-1965
      Under Stalin
      Under Khrushchev
      Against Khrushchev
7. Academic Issues: Science
      Plant Physiology
      Genetics
      The Autonomy of Scientists
8. Academic Issues: Marxism
      Philosophy
      The Human Animal
9. The Criterion of Practice
      Potatoes
      Corn
      Land
10. Ideologies and Realities

Appendix A. Repressed Specialists
Appendix B. For the Kremlinologists
Bibliography
Notes
Index

Customer Reviews