Ivan Potekhin and the First International Congress of Africanists in 1962статья
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Аннотация:The article is devoted to the role of the Soviet scientist, one of the founders of the Soviet
African Studies I. I. Potekhin (1903–1964) in organizing and holding the First International Congress of Africanists, held in Ghana on December 11–18, 1962. On the basis of archival documents,
the painful process of preparation headed by I. I. Potekhin of the Soviet delegation to participate in
the congress. This example clearly demonstrates the sluggishness of the Soviet bureaucracy, which
was unable to respond to the challenges of the time, to capture really relevant, and not imaginary,
social, political and scientific trends. As a result, the Soviet delegation turned out to be very modest
in number, contrary to initial expectations. The opportunity to go to Africa was not given to those
who needed it. Nevertheless, for Soviet scientists who nevertheless went to Ghana, participation in
the congress turned out to be successful and useful. The article showed that, despite the commitment to dogmatic Soviet Marxism, I. I. Potekhin managed to build quite successful business relations
with both Western and African colleagues, which undoubtedly had a positive effect on the process of
organizing the First Congress of Africanists. Although the congress was not without sharp disputes
and discussions, its work, on the whole, took place in a friendly atmosphere. Potekhin's stubborn
desire to develop African studies outside the Western world fit into the decolonization discourse and
was clearly ahead of its time. It is concluded that the congress in Ghana has become an important
milestone in the development and institutionalization of world African studies.