ChinaTalk Lessons from American Sovietology
Jul 15, 2022
David Engerman, author of "Know Your Enemy: The Rise and Fall of America's Soviet Experts," joins experts Chris Miller and Sam George to discuss the fascinating rise of Sovietology in America during the Cold War. They explore how a handful of specialists shaped U.S. policy, the failures of this intellectual mobilization, and the relevant lessons for today's study of China. The conversation dives into the complexities of understanding totalitarian regimes and reflects on the crucial relationship between academia and government funding.
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Early Russian Studies
- Pre-WWII, Russian studies was a small field, described by Samuel Harper as comprising "freaks and nuts."
- Early Cold War programs like Columbia's Russian Institute intended to train business executives, but few participated.
Post-War Shift
- During WWII, Soviet studies was part of a broader area studies movement encompassing Asia, China, and Europe.
- It gained importance after WWII as the Soviet Union emerged as a global adversary.
Émigrés in Soviet Studies
- Early Soviet studies programs avoided émigrés, deeming them biased.
- This changed gradually, with figures like Richard Pipes and Zbigniew Brzezinski entering the field.
