Russia and Mongolia: transfer of scientific knowledge in political context (1920s)

• Autores: Tatiana I. Yusupova
• Localización: The Circulation of Science and Technology: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the European Society for the History of Science. Barcelona, 18-20 November 2010 / coord. por Antoni M. Roca Rosell, 2012, ISBN 978-84-9965-108-8, págs. 1124-1126
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Russian-Mongolian scientific contacts began in the middle of the 1920s. It was impossible for Mongolia –just until recently a feudal-theocratic country without any system of secular education– to start organizing of national scientific institutions without foreign support. Taking into consideration all historical and political factors, the first possible candidate for granting such a support was the Russian Academy of Science (RAS). .

    The latter had an interest of its own in the exploration of Mongolia for several reasons: further explorations in frontier regions; or systematization of materials, having been previously collected during several Russian expeditions to Central Asia and then located in Academic institutes. The intentions of the Russian scientists, interested in further explorations of Mongolia, and the support of the Mongolian Scientific Committee coincided with the geopolitical situation in that region and the striving of the Soviet government for obtaining political authority there. That is why RAS’ initiatives were supported by the government.

    Russian-Mongolian scientific contacts took various forms, such as: joint Russian-Mongolian expeditions and publications of collected data, support in establishing a national museum in Mongolia, exchange of scientific editions, formal visits of RAS officials to the Mongolian Scientific Committee, training of young Mongolian specialists in Russia, and so on. They developed from the gratuitous aid on the part of Russia to the bilateral party relationship on the basis of various agreements and conventions in which both countries took part. Their format, content and intensity varied due to the international status of Mongolia, the nature of RussianMongolian relations, and the internal political situation in both countries. Today, according to many researchers, an ideological component left the academic interaction of both countries giving place to national interests.