Books, Arts & Manners: Lysenko, Stalin, Khrushchev and Science

The Lysenko Affair By David Joravsky

Harvard, 450pp, $13.95 There are four possible responses to confrontation with tyranny and terrorism: capitulation and collaboration; evasion; compromise and appeasement; defiance. Examples of all four occurring as reactions to the Lysenko regime are described by Joravsky. Some scientists switched from one tactic to another; Vavilov started by trying to appease Lysenko. As Lysenko’s irrationality increased, Vavilov had no choice but to attack Lysenko’s destruction of genetics. For this, Vavilov was arrested, and he died of malnutrition and disease in prison. Other scientists such as Maksimov put on a show of collaboration to save their laboratories so that their subordinates might continue conventional research. Still others became Lysenko’s hatchetmen. One was A. I. Oparin. Joravsky says:

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Thomas H. Jukes

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The Lysenko Affair By David Joravsky

Harvard, 450pp, $13.95 There are four possible responses to confrontation with tyranny and terrorism: capitulation and collaboration; evasion; compromise and appeasement; defiance. Examples of all four occurring as reactions to the Lysenko regime are described by Joravsky. Some scientists switched from one tactic to another; Vavilov started by trying to appease Lysenko. As Lysenko’s irrationality increased, Vavilov had no choice but to attack Lysenko’s destruction of genetics. For this, Vavilov was arrested, and he died of malnutrition and disease in prison. Other scientists such as Maksimov put on a show of collaboration to save their laboratories so that their subordinates might continue conventional research. Still others became Lysenko’s hatchetmen. One was A. I. Oparin. Joravsky says: