V. I. Lenin, the Communist Party and the Soviet Government have always paid serious attention to the development of scientific, technical and cultural exchange between the Soviet state and foreign countries. They proceeded not only from the objective conditionality of such contacts, but also from their important role in the implementation of the policy of peaceful coexistence of countries with different socio-economic systems of mutual understanding and friendship between peoples. In the current conditions of defusing international tension, the importance of scientific, technical and cultural ties between countries has increased even more, so the Peace Program adopted at the XXIV and developed at the XXV Congresses of the CPSU pays great attention to this aspect of international relations. The study of the rich experience of the Soviet Union in developing international scientific and cultural ties in the past and present is intended, as L. I. Brezhnev emphasized, to help all peoples understand their mutual relations in relation to the realities of today. 1
A serious scientific study of the problem of international scientific and cultural relations of the USSR began first of all with a study from this point of view of the first 15 years of the Soviet country's existence (1917-1932), when under the leadership of-

1 See L. I. Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 5, Moscow, 1976, pp. 336-337.

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The Communist Party developed the principles and traditions of the socialist State's policy in the field of international scientific and cultural exchange. To date (mainly in the last 10 years), a significant literature on this topic has been created. The first and so far only attempt to analyze it belongs to A. E. Ioffe22, who, without setting out to analyze it in detail, gave a general description of the historiography of the problem. Especially noteworthy is the author's analysis of Lenin's works, which form the methodological basis and at the same time an important source for studying the problem of international cultural, scientific and technical exchange of the Soviet state.

This review attempts to examine the main trends in the study of international scientific and cultural relations of the USSR in 1917-1932, to identify insufficiently or completely unexplored issues and aspects of the topic.

With the formation of the world socialist system, the study of the Soviet Union's bilateral relations with Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and other countries in the pre-war years, apart from purely scientific, acquired great political significance. Soviet historians turned to the study of the relations of our country with the workers of these countries in all areas, including in the field of scientific and cultural relations after the Great October 3 . Based on concrete historical material, they show the revolutionizing influence of the socialist revolution and cultural construction in Soviet Russia on the working class and intelligentsia of a number of countries, as well as the activities of progressive circles of the intelligentsia and working class to establish international relations with the world's first socialist state, establish information and creative contacts with representatives of Soviet science and culture.

The activities of the Society for Cultural Rapprochement with the USSR, established in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s, were analyzed in particular detail. A number of articles reveal the diversity and wide scope of Soviet-German scientific, technical and cultural ties during the Weimar Republic period, which were the most significant in comparison with similar contacts that existed at that time with other foreign countries .4 The activities of the Das neue Rublang and Kultura i Tekhnika societies, created by the progressive German intelligentsia to expand and deepen scientific, technical and cultural ties between the two countries, were specially studied. The literature reflects the close ties and creative cooperation of Soviet and German scientists, engineers, teachers, doctors, writers, artists and other artists. Cooperation between scientists of the USSR and the GDR contributed to the fruitful study of Soviet-German scientific, technical and cultural ties .5 Research by both Soviet and German scientists has shown the mutually beneficial and fruitful nature of scientific and cultural ties between the two countries, based on the Rapallo Peace Treaty of 1922.

An important area in the study of scientific and cultural exchange is the relations of the USSR with the states and peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Interesting factual material on this problem can be found in the general works on-

2 A. E. Ioffe. International relations of Soviet science, Technology and Culture (1917-1932). Moscow, 1975.

3 B. D. Vorobyov. Formation and activity of the Czechoslovak Society for Economic and Cultural Rapprochement with New Russia (1925-1927). "Soviet Slavic Studies", 1965, N 2; V. I. Zlydnev. From the history of establishing Soviet-Bulgarian cultural ties. "Soviet Slavic Studies", 1965, N 5; M. S. Kapitsa, V. I. Ivanenko. Druzhba, pobedannaya v borbeja (Sovetsko-mongol'skie otnosheniya) [Friendship won in the Struggle (Soviet-Mongolian Relations)]. Moscow, 1965; A. S. Tsvetko. Soviet-Chinese cultural relations. Historical Essay, Moscow, 1974, et al.

4 A. E. Ioffe. Soviet-German Society "Culture and Technology". Bulletin of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1966, No. 5; Yu. P. Murav'ev. Soviet-German scientific relations during the Weimar Republic. "Yearbook of German History. 1968". Moscow, 1969; L. S. Nikolskaya. Development of Soviet-German scientific and cultural ties (1919-1928). " Yearbook of German History. 1970". Moscow, 1971.

5 Cooperation in the study of Soviet-German scientific and cultural relations resulted in the fundamental work " Deutschland. Sowjetunion. Aus funf Jahrzehnten kultureller Zusammenarbeit". B. 1966.

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sacred relations of the Soviet state with Turkey, Afghanistan, India, Latin American countries, etc.6. Special studies of bilateral scientific and cultural contacts of the USSR with the countries of the East are not yet sufficient. In several works, 7 the process of formation and development of cultural ties between the Soviet country and Iran, the Arab states of Yemen and the Hijas, as well as contacts with Latin American countries is studied. The authors of the corresponding works cite data indicating that these countries showed great interest in our country and its cultural construction, which unfolded after the Great October Revolution. They reveal the activities of the Soviet state to provide disinterested assistance to Iran in training personnel and developing its national culture. The technical and medical assistance that the Soviet Union provided to the young Arab States of Yemen and Hijas was also important. Soviet researchers convincingly show that cultural ties between the USSR and these countries were mutual, built on an equal basis, in the spirit of good neighborliness and friendship. As a result of the development of cultural ties, the authority of the Soviet Union has grown and mutual understanding between our country and the peoples of this region has been strengthened. Contacts between the USSR and Latin American countries are covered only in connection with scientific expeditions organized in the 20-30s under the leadership of Academician N. I. Vavilov.

In recent years, our literature has been expanded with works that have explored the USSR's bilateral relations in the field of science and culture with a number of developed capitalist countries. The largest number of articles is devoted to Soviet-French contacts 8 . They discuss in detail the process of restoring traditional Russian-French scientific ties, trace their development and deepening after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the USSR and France, and touch upon the problems of education and activities of the Committee for scientific rapprochement with Russia, established by prominent French scientists in late 1925. A significant place is given in these works to the analysis of Soviet-French relations in the field of literature and art, including with its proletarian representatives. The authors of the articles highlight the activities of progressive circles of the French intelligentsia in creating the societies "Cultural Rapprochement with the USSR" and "Friends of the USSR" and their work on organizing relations between the two countries in all areas of culture.

There is much less literature on Soviet-American scientific, technical, and cultural ties 9 . It shows the efforts of the Soviet government and a number of public organizations of the USSR to establish and develop contacts with the United States in the field of science and culture, primarily the Information Bureau of the Soviet Union, established in 1921 in Washington. Considerable attention is paid to the formation of a Society of cultural connection with the USSR, created by the progressive intelligentsia

6 Yu. A. Bagirov. From the history of Soviet-Turkish relations (1920-1922). Baku. 1965; L. B. Teplinsky. 50 years of Soviet-Afghan relations. 1919-1969. Moscow, 1971, et al.

7 D. V. Valieva. Soviet-Iranian cultural relations (1921-1960). Tashkent, 1965; A. E. Ioffe. The Initial stage of relations between the Soviet Union and Arab and African countries (1923-1932). Peoples of Asia and Africa, 1965, No. 6; A. I. Sizonenko. From the history of Soviet-Latin American scientific relations (Soviet expeditions to Latin America in 1925-1926 and 1932-1933). "New and Modern History", 1967, N 4.

8 A. Dzhumanov. Радянсько-французськi культурнi та науковi зв'язки у 1928- 1935 рр. "Украiнський iсторичний журнал", 1966, N 7; Е. С. Кулябко. Scientific relations of I. P. Pavlov with French scientists. "French Yearbook, 1967", Moscow, 1968; L. S. Nikolskaya. Establishment of Soviet-French contacts in the field of science and culture (1919-1928). " French Yearbook. 1970". Moscow, 1972; G. D. Kotova. Society of Friends of the Soviet Union in 1928-1933 " French Yearbook. 1973". Moscow, 1975; A. A. Ivanovskaya. At the origins of Soviet-French scientific and technical ties. Voprosy Istorii, 1976, No. 1.

9 l. S. Nikolskaya. On the history of the development of Soviet-American scientific and cultural contacts (1924-1933). " American Yearbook. 1973". Moscow, 1973; V. K. Furaev. Information Bureau of the Soviet Union in Washington (1923-1933). "Problems of national and universal history". Issue 2. L. 1973; his. Soviet-American Scientific and Cultural Relations (1924-1933). Voprosy Istorii, 1974, No. 3.

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It reflects his efforts to develop scientific and cultural contacts with the Soviet Union, as well as his struggle to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Bilateral relations in the field of science and culture with other capitalist countries in the pre-war period are still poorly covered. Only small articles deal with the creation and activities of societies for cultural rapprochement with the USSR in England, Belgium, Spain, and Japan .10
Thus, there are still no special studies in the field of bilateral scientific and cultural relations of the USSR with a number of countries. This applies primarily to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Afghanistan, with which Soviet Russia had relatively broad scientific and cultural contacts in those years. Even with those countries that were dominated by reactionary, extremely anti-Soviet regimes (Poland, Yugoslavia, Romania, etc.), despite official obstacles, there were cultural ties at that time. Although the scientific and cultural exchange of the USSR with some other countries is poorly studied, it is rather one-sided. This applies not only to developed capitalist countries, but also to peoples who were in colonial and semi-colonial dependence.

Simultaneously with the study of bilateral exchange, separate problems of international relations of the USSR in various fields of science and culture were specially developed. Scientific contacts were the most studied. Special attention should be paid to the works that highlight Lenin's role in organizing scientific and technical exchange between Soviet Russia and capitalist countries .11 They show Lenin's efforts to establish information about the latest achievements in science, technology, and culture. Soviet historians have convincingly proved that Lenin not only formulated the task of the young socialist state - "To draw good things from abroad with both hands"12, but also acted as the initiator and practical organizer of this task.

Soviet scientists investigated direct scientific contacts both in the first years of Soviet power and during the period of industrialization of our country13 . The activities of the Soviet government in organizing international relations between scientists of the USSR were highlighted. An important event in this regard was the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, after which the creative contacts of Soviet scientists with all countries significantly expanded. The existing works trace the forms and channels of relations between scientists of the Soviet Union and foreign colleagues, their cooperation with national and international scientific organizations, investigate the issues of participation of Soviet scientists in international congresses and conferences, as well as international relations of Soviet historians .14 Based on concrete material, the authors of these works show how the prestige of Soviet science in the world has steadily increased. They also reflect the connections of Soviet scientists with colonial countries.

10 M. S. Kuzmin. English Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR. "Voprosy istorii", 1966, N 2; his. Cultural relations between the USSR and Japan after October (1925-1932). "Peoples of Asia and Africa" 1967, N 5; his. Activities of the Soviet-Belgian Society for Cultural Relations in 1925-1932 "Bulletin" of Leningrad State University, series history, language, literature, 1969, N 20, vol. 4; V. V. Kuleshova. Spanish intelligentsia and Spanish-Soviet cultural ties of the 20s. "Problems of Spanish history", Moscow, 1971, et al.

11 A. E. Ioffe, V. I. Lenin and the development of international scientific, technical and cultural relations of the Soviet Country. "Leninist foreign Policy of the Soviet Country 1917-1924", Moscow, 1969; E. D. Lebedki na. International relations of Soviet scientists in 1917-1924. Voprosy Istorii, 1971, No. 2; ee same. International Council of Scientific Unions and Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1974; J. P. Muravyev. W. I. Lenin und die sowjetisch-deutschen Kulturbeziehungen in der Weimarer Republik. "Zeitschrift fur Geschichtswissenschaft", 1971, N 6.

12 V. I. Lenin. PSS. T. 36, p. 550.

13 See, for example, A. E. Ioffe. The beginning of international scientific relations in the Soviet country. "Vestnik" of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1967, N10; same name. International scientific and cultural relations of the Soviet Union (1917-1932). "Voprosy istorii", 1969, N 4.

14 L. V. Bazya. Soviet historians at international congresses (20-50s). "History of the USSR", 1974, N 3; N. M. Mitryakova. International scientific relations of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the 30s. "History of the USSR", 1974, N 3.

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and dependent countries, which were of an equal nature 15 . Unfortunately, with the exception of the study of the activities of the Soviet-German society "Culture and Technology", the literature does not analyze the scientific and technical relations of the Soviet Union in the 20 - 30s.

There are several works on international sports relations of the USSR 16 . They reveal the practical activities of the Soviet government and the USSR physical culture movement in developing ties with foreign workers ' (and partly bourgeois) sports organizations. Our historians highlight the role of the Soviet physical culture movement in the creation of the "Red Sportintern" and its struggle for the unity of international workers ' sports. In all the works, the main political result of the development of international relations of Soviet sport is revealed - the growth of solidarity of the foreign proletariat with the USSR, the strengthening of its unity in the struggle against capital, and the departure from the 'reformist leaders'. However, the struggle of the Communist Party against leftist tendencies in the "Red Sports International" and the physical Culture Movement of the USSR, which hindered the development of international relations, was not reflected in the literature.

The first steps have been taken in the study of international relations in the field of science, technology and culture of individual republics of the Soviet Union. In the mentioned book " Deutschland. Sowjetunion "and" Ukrainian Historical Journal " published several articles by Ukrainian historians, which traced individual episodes of scientific and cultural relations of the Ukrainian SSR with the Weimar Republic and Czechoslovakia 17 . Scientific, technical and cultural relations between Soviet Ukraine and Germany are investigated in the book by I. M. Kulinich 18 . A large chapter is devoted to the period of interest. Of particular value is the coverage of practical steps taken by the Government of the Ukrainian SSR and state institutions of the republic to organize foreign missions in order to use the best practices of developed capitalist countries. The author shows convincing assistance in this matter from the government of the RSFSR and Lenin personally. I. M. Kulinich reveals the scientific and technical ties that existed between Ukraine and Germany in those years. The book also examines Ukrainian-German literary contacts and exchanges in the field of art and sports, as well as the activities of the Ukrainian Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries.

Unfortunately, the international cultural relations of the 20 - 30s of Soviet Belarus, the Transcaucasian republics and other peoples of the USSR have not yet become the subject of special research. The activities of the societies for cultural relations with foreign countries of the BSSR and ZSFSR, as well as the branches of the BOKS in the North Caucasus and the Far East, which have done a great deal of work to highlight abroad the success in socialist construction, the flourishing of national culture of the backward and formerly oppressed peoples of tsarist Russia, remain unexplored.

In addition to studying the Soviet Union's bilateral relations and exchanges in various fields of science, technology ,and culture, several works have recently been published that analyze the entire range of international relations in this area. 19 In them

15 S. G. Korneev. Scientific relations of the USSR Academy of Sciences with the countries of Asia and Africa, Moscow, 1969.

16 E. Kaitmazova. Krasny Sportintern. "Athletics", 1966, NN 8-10; V. P. Kozmina. International workers 'sports movement after the Great October Socialist Revolution (1917-1928). "Essays on the history of physical culture". VI. 1967; I. Zholdak. Breaking the blockade. From the history of international relations of Soviet athletes. "Physical Culture and Sport", 1967, N 7; N. A. Makartsev. Pages of the history of Soviet Sports, Moscow, 1967; N. N. Bugrov. Lenin's ideas in the development of international sports relations. "Sport abroad", 1972, N 10, etc.

17 I. K. Bilodid. Zur Tatigkeit der Ukrainischen Sektion der Gesellschaft fur So-wjetisch-Deutsche Freundschaft; I. M. Kulinyc. Ukrainisch-deutsche Wissenschafts- und Kulturbeziehungen in den Jahren 1922 bis 1932. "Deutschland. Sowjetunion. Aus fiinf Jahr-zehnten kultureller Zusammenarbeit"; В. У. Павелко. З iсторii культурних зв'язкiв Радянськоi Украiни i Чехословаччини (1918 - 1939 pp.). "Украiнський iсторичний журнал", 1966, N 7.

18 I. М. Кулiнич. Украiнсько-нiмецькi iсторични зв'язки. Киiв, 1969.

19 A. E. Ioffe. Internatsionalnye, nauchnye i kul'turnye svyazi Sovetskogo Soyuza (1928 - 1932) [International, Scientific and Cultural relations of the Soviet Union (1928-1932)]. International relations of Soviet science, technology and Culture 1917-1932); M. S. Kuzmin. Activities of the Party and the Soviet State in the development of international scientific and cultural ties of the USSR. 1917-1932. l. 1971.

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The complex, multi-faceted process of international cultural exchange of the young socialist state during the entire period of creating the foundations of socialism is studied. This made it possible to reveal how Lenin's ideas about using the advanced scientific and technical experience of capitalist countries were implemented not only in the first years of Soviet power, but also during the period of industrialization of our country, to draw important conclusions and generalizations about the consistency of the Communist Party's policy, its desire, despite the differences in socio-economic systems and hostility bourgeois governments, develop scientific and technical ties with the West. At the same time, the study of a large time period made it possible to trace the change in the forms of solidarity and assistance provided to our country by the international working class and progressive intelligentsia in the construction of socialism, including directly on the construction sites of the first five-year plan.

The impact of Soviet science and culture on the world community, the growth of their authority in the course of the development of socialist construction in the USSR and the expansion of its international relations were highlighted. In contrast to the articles and books of literary and art historians, these works present a general picture of the multifaceted international relations and exchange of Soviet literature, theater, music and cinematography. They show how the familiarity of millions of people abroad with Soviet literature and art led them to the conclusion that great revolutionary ideas give rise to great art. In comparison with the previous works, the impact of socialist culture on the working people and progressive intelligentsia of foreign countries, which helped to strengthen the positions of democratic and socialist elements in the culture of bourgeois states, is much more deeply and widely revealed. The data given for all the countries with which the USSR had scientific and cultural ties in those years indicate the growing struggle of the progressive public in defense of the USSR, its unity on the platform of support and solidarity with our country - the only state that followed the path of economic, social and cultural progress, a stronghold of peace, democracy and socialism.

A contribution to the historiography of the problem was also a generalization of the scientific and cultural relations of the Soviet country with the states and peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America in 1917-1932, highlighting assistance in the creation of cadres and the development of their national culture.

The factual material presented in the published works made it possible to draw a conclusion about the objective nature of bilateral relations in the field of science, technology and culture between countries with different socio-economic systems and their important role in peaceful coexistence since the split of the world into two opposing camps, to show the leading role of the Communist Party in the implementation international scientific, technical and cultural exchange of the Soviet State in the name of mutual enrichment of the cultures of all peoples, the triumph of democracy, peace and socialism.

Thus, since the mid-60s, the study of various aspects of the complex and multifaceted problem of international, scientific, technical and cultural relations of the USSR in the first 15 years of the existence of the socialist state has been intensively developed. As a result, Soviet scientists have gone from studying narrow issues of bilateral exchange between the USSR and a number of countries or relations in various fields of culture to writing major works summarizing the activities of the Communist Party and the Soviet Government, public organizations of the USSR in this direction during the long and difficult period of building the foundations of socialism.

However, the problem of international scientific, technical and cultural relations and exchange of the USSR in the framework of 1917-1932 has not yet been fully studied. It seems to us that this problem was developed mainly as part of the foreign policy activities of the Soviet state in terms of its implementation of the following tasks:-

20 In the post-war period, they created fundamental works that reflected the international relations of Soviet literature and art of the 20s-30s messengers, but this is a special topic.

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policies of peaceful coexistence. The process of developing relations and exchanges with foreign countries was not sufficiently connected with the complex issues of cultural construction in our country. As a result, such questions as the impact of bourgeois culture and the party's struggle against the ideological sabotage of imperialism, the imposition of bourgeois aesthetic views, morals and ideas were poorly developed. The existing literature hardly reflects class ties in the field of culture. Meanwhile, the policy of proletarian internationalism has always been the most important aspect in the activities of our party, state, and creative organizations. The literature also covers such issues as the establishment and development of relations and contacts between Soviet scientists and cultural organizations and institutions with international unions and other bodies that were under the auspices of the League of Nations or were directly part of it.

International cultural relations of the USSR is a topic that has always attracted the attention of bourgeois authors and has always served as one of the objects of various distortions and ideological speculations. The falsification of the policies of the CPSU and the Soviet state in the field of cultural exchange especially intensified during the Cold War. Exposing these perversions remains an urgent task of the ideological struggle. It is even more important in modern conditions, as it contributes to the overall process of deepening and expanding international cooperation. Meanwhile, we can point out only a few works that criticize the falsifications of bourgeois historians in this area .21 For a thorough and reasoned exposure of the writings of Sovietologists, this is clearly not enough.

The history of international scientific relations is located at the intersection of a number of historical disciplines and therefore requires a comprehensive study by a team of specialists in the field of foreign policy, the cultural revolution, the international labor movement, the history of the CPSU!, as well as literary critics, art historians and others. Only such an approach will help to fully reflect the complex processes of international scientific and cultural exchange of socialist states with capitalist and developing countries, the workers ' and democratic movements, as well as between the countries of the socialist community.

21 V. P. Kozmina. Against the falsification of working sports. "Theory and Practice of physical culture", 1966, N 5; M. S. Kuzmin, V. A. Sergeev. The policy of the CPSU and the Soviet state in the field of international cultural relations in 1920-1932 and anti-communist myths of Sovietologists. "Critique of bourgeois concepts of the history and politics of the CPSU", L. 1974, et al.

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