Authors

Katharina Lenski¹;  ¹ Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany

Discussion

Science in the state-socialist countries of the postwar period was characterized by a great deal of secrecy and mistrust, just like scientific exchange. However, trust in truth-based knowledge production is the foundation of all science. This is even more true for scientific exchange. In the past, reflections on the influence of the secret police on science and trust in science have focused on the problem of spies. However, this only covers a partial problem of society and science in dictatorships.

In my presentation I would reflect on the scientific exchange in the Cold War between GDR and USA. My remarks are guided by two theses.

First: the social technique and practice of secrecy was not limited to the Stasi. Secrecy has been a central aspect of life in the GDR. The functions of the scientific cadres adapted to the interaction of secret and official directives. This is supported by the model of spaces of thought and communication on which I have published. With this model it may be possible to address the history of the Cold War and the secret constellations from a long-term perspective.

The second thesis therefore argues that Cooperation under the agreement between the U.S. and the GDR was supposed to be for academic exchange, but in fact it was for military espionage. To this end, secondly, an overview of GDR university history and the conditions of international exchange after the building of the Wall will follow. Then, I will discuss the scientific exchange with the U.S. and demonstrate by two examples the links between the scientific and the higher education political and secret police functions.