INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION "ZNANIE" / HISTORY

On May 1, 1947, there was an appeal of group of eminent scientists, politics and servicemen (among them – S.I.Vavilov, B.D.Grekov, N.S.Tichonov, E.V.Tarle, A.I.Oparin, K.Simonov, G.Ulanova) published in central newspapers addressed to all representatives of science, literature and art, to scientific and social organizations and institutions of Soviet Union concerning the creation of All-Union Society “Znanie” for dissemination of political and scientific knowledge. Hard post-war times, the necessity of fast and full recovery of national economy have put a question about increase in educational level of the Soviet people.

By its resolutions of April 29 and December 16, 1947, signed by I.V.Stalin, the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved the appeal of group of eminent scientists and public figures about the creation of the Society as well as organizational committee, handed over Polytechnic museum to the Society with material base of the All-Union lecture bureau. As early as at the first session conducted in May 12, 1947, organizational committee made a decision to establish branches of Society in all (with the exception of Russian Federation, where Russian Society “Znanie” was created in 1957) union republics and largest regional and provincial centers of Russia.

In June 20, 1947, the Charter of Society was ratified which says, that “scientific, social and political, military, literature and art figures, educators, personally actively participating in dissemination of political and scientific knowledge among the USSR population can become full members”.

In July 7, 1947, there was a general meeting of founder members and full members of the All-Union Society for dissemination of political and scientific knowledge in Bolshoi Theatre, where 930 members of the Society participated, including 578 people from 15 union republics. On July 9 after deliberations the Charter was adopted, executive committee and inspection commission were elected.

An opening address at the constituent assembly was delivered by the chairman of organizational committee, president of Academy of Sciences of the USSR academician S.I.Vavilov. In particular, he said the following: “One should be taught to science, knowledge is passed from one person to another – that is special meaning of this Russian word… Our Society should become guide and mediator of true, high and advanced knowledge between specialists and people… We hope to see in our Society foremost scientific intellectuals of the Soviet Union».

During the plenary session of Executive Committee of the All-Union Society “Znanie”, which was conducted on July 10, 1947, president of Academy of Sciences of the USSR, world-famous scientist S.I.Vavilov was elected president; M.B.Mitin was elected first deputy of president, and academician I.I.Artobolevsky, professor V.I.Dokukin and professor I.V.Zubov were elected deputies of the president. Academician E.S.Varga, Major-General M.R.Galaktionov, corresponding member of Academy of Sciences of the USSR E.A.Korovin, academician I.I.Minz, professor M.V.Nechkina, academician A.I.Oparin and academician E.A.Chudakov became members of Presidium of Executive Committee. The names of top leaders of Society “Znanie” were well-known in our country, and showed the importance attached to the Society for dissemination of knowledge. Moreover, the establishment of the All-Union Society “Znanie” meant the rebirth of tradition of enlightenment among people, which used to be peculiar to eminent scientists and cultural workers in Russia of 19th and beginning of 20th century.

The fact, that during various periods the All-Union Society “Znanie” was headed (after Sergey Vavilov) by academicians, the Nobel Prize laureates Nicolay Semenov and Nicolay Basov, by vice-president of Academy of Sciences, deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, chairman of the State Committee of the USSR on science and engineering Vladimir Kirillin, by academicians Ivan Nicolayevich Artobolevsky and Konstantin Frolov, proves the authority that the Society had over nation.

Since its inception, the All-Union Society “Znanie” was conducting intensive work on popularization: lectures concerning various issues (from the problems of international life to recent achievements in astronomy and geology) were given everywhere. Shorthand records of the best lectures, given in Central lecture-hall of Moscow and other lecture-rooms, entered general circulation.

Every year the All-Union Society “Znanie” was growing stronger, gaining strength. Its lines were reinforced by new and fresh groups of Soviet intellectuals. The structure of organization, social roots and the principles of democracy were improving, new forms of knowledge dissemination were emerging, the number of given lections was rising. Academicians N.D.Zelinsky, V.A.Obruchev, D.N.Pryanishnikov became the first honorary members of the Society.

The most important milestones in the history of the All-Union Society “Znanie” between 1947 and 1991 are conferences and plenary sessions of the Society, at which topical problems of content, ideological and theoretical levels of teaching work were discussed as well as the improvement of its forms and methods, and guidance of all elements of society.

Also, very important is the 3rd Congress, which took place on January 29, 1960 in Kremlin, and which could be named as the Congress of strengthening of social roots in the work of Society “Znanie”. For instance, by the end of 1959, the share of free lectures in all organizations of Society was 22%/ At the same time, during this congress a problem was set before the Society – to reach within 2 – 3 years self-payment – which was successfully implemented.

On June 2, 1964, there was the 4th Congress of the All-Union Society “Znanie” which went down in history as the Congress on creation people’s universities – one of major forms of adult life-long education. By this time, each adult attended 4 – 5 lectures on average annually. During the first 20 years of existence, the All-Union Society “Znanie” from a small and elite group of scientists has turned into large organization, the range of activities has become very wide, while their character – quite diverse. Along with occasional lectures, thematic nights, theoretical and research-and-production conferences, debates, verbal journals, nights of questions and answers, disputes etc. became widely spread. Publishing activity of the Society was very successful. The number of copies of magazines, booklets and books of the Society printed every year made up almost half of all printed in the country popular scientific literature. Publishing house “Znanie” used to publish 30 millions of printed output of about 500 titles. Year-book “Science and Humanity” appeared in print in 1962 as well as a new YB “The Future of Science” shortly after. The All-Union Society “Znanie” had its own popular magazines: “Science and Life”, “International Life”, “Science and Religion”, “Znanie - Force”, “The word of lecturer”. Annual All-Union competition on best works of popular scientific literatures became very popular. In 1972 enlightening accomplishments of the All-Union Society “Znanie” were commemorated by the Order of Lenin. By the beginning of the 1990th almost 4 millions of people were members of the All-Union Society “Znanie” (1947 – 6.3 thousand). Every year lecturers were giving more that 25 millions of lectures. 2 thousand Academicians, more than 25 thousand Doctors of Science and Professors, 383 thousands of engineers, 208 thousands of Doctors, 184 specialist in the area of agriculture were united be the Society.

Its material resources included “Houses of knowledge”, organizations of scientific and technical popularization, lecture-halls, planetariums, publishing houses. During last decades, publishing house “Znanie” printed annually more than 200 millions of copies of booklets, books, magazines and learning books. 34 series of cycle “New in life, science and mechanics” became its visiting card. Popular scientific literature such as “Life of prominent persons”, “Science and progress”, “Creators of science and mechanics” has always enjoyed true interest of readers.

Imminent at the beginning of 1990th crisis in political, economic and spiritual areas of our country life adversely affected work of the All-Union Society “Znanie” and its organizations from union republics. The essence of crisis lies in the fact that society failed to reform itself without any assistance from the leadership of CPSU, to act under conditions of multi-party system and transition to market economy.

A very special place in the history of the All-Union Society “Znanie” is given to the 10th extraordinary conference, which took place on January 22, 1991. In his speech, chairman of organizational committee, academician K.V.Frolov defined the main principles and directions of work of Society under new conditions. Conception of renovation of Society and new Charter were adopted during that conference. The main idea of these documents was that the deciding factor of renovation of Society “Znanie” should be deep and comprehensive democratization. From rigidly centralized organization guided vertically “top-down” with hypertrophied role of staff and nomenclature system of governing bodies forming, the All-Union Society “Znanie” ought to be reorganized into free and equitable association (union) with independent societies “Znanie” from union republics as its members.

However, impetuous events of spring, summer and autumn of 1991 have differently put a question concerning the destiny of the All-Union Society “Znanie”. Declaration of independence of the RSFSR, leaving by Lithuania and later Latvia and Estonia of the USSR brought about the necessity of making decision about the future of the All-Union Society “Znanie”. For this purpose, at the beginning of November of 1991 the 11th extraordinary conference was convened.

In November 4, 1991, after stormy debates a decision for the sake of preservation of traditional relations of intellectuals from independent republics was made – to reorganize the All-Union Society “Znanie” into International Association “Znanie” (IA “Znanie”), and the conference itself - into its constituent assembly. It adopted constituent agreement of International Association “Znanie” signed by the heads of societies “Znanie” from all union republics (with the exception of Lithuania). Vice-president of Academy of Sciences of the USSR, academician K.V.Frolov has been elected President of the Association.

The Assembly adopted altered Charter of Association with provision that International Association “Znanie” is voluntary nonpolitical social association (union) of international, national or other organizations, established for the dissemination of scientific knowledge, contacts among scientists and specialists, creation of conditions for international exchange of information and intellectual production. Both conference and assembly decided that the All-Union Society “Znanie” will be predecessor of International Association “Znanie”. The assembly has affiliated Italian center “East – West”, the Mongolian Society on knowledge promotion, the Czechoslovak Academy of Jan Komensky, Japanese Center of friendship and international exchange.

During the first two years that passed after constituent conference executive committee has been conducting certain work. For example, the following international conferences and seminars were organized: in Bryansk – “The Consequences of Chernobyl Disaster”, in Kiev – “Space Monitoring”, also several meetings of board and executive committee of Association were held. But, since 1994 the leadership virtually did nothing. During several years of its unskillful activity, the Executive Committee of Association has put Association to the verge of financial bankruptcy.

At the 2nd conference (held in January 25, 1994) additions were adopted as well as made changes in the Charted of Association; in particular, specified possession of equal rights by all the members of Association (without exceptions).

An extraordinary meeting of the Congress caused by the adoption of a new Federal Law “On Public Associations” as well as by the necessity to bring the Charter of Association into line with this law was held in June, 29, 1995. The Congress satisfied the request of academician K.V. Frolov to leave the post of the President.

E.M. Malitikov became the new President of the International Association “Znanie” (“Knowledge”).

Many participants of the Congress were concerned about the situation in the Association: discontinuing of lecture work, severe economic and financial situation, inability of the leadership of the Executive Committee to find the solution.

All these caused the necessity of the extraordinary calling of the Fourth Congress, which was held in Kishinev on October, 3 – 7, 1996.

The Congress elected a new Executive Committee of the International Association “Znanie” and adopted the Concept of its activities. The concept defined the main principles and guidelines, conditions and stages of creation of common intellectual, information and educational space, primarily on the territory of the former USSR. A decision was made that the activity of the International Association “Znanie” in the modern conditions should be developed in the following fields: enlightenment, continuous education, culture and ecology. In the frames of every field separate projects were created and realized. The main attention was given to the program “The Commonwealth” aimed at the development of integration processes and international relations.

New members joined the Association during the Congress. They are: The Ural Regional Branch of the Academy of Engineer Sciences, Interregional Public Association “Lighting Technology Society”, the All-Russian association “Assistance to the Universities” (the Association of Russian Universities), the Moscow office of the Danube-European Institute, Moscow institute of economy, politics and law, the “Disarmament for Development” Foundation and the Society of Scientists of Rumania.

E.M. Malitikov, the new President of the International Association “Znanie”, managed to find the way out of the crisis and effectively organized the Association activities, restored its international authority, established strong ties with the UN and other major international institutions.

The International Association “Znanie”, continuing the annals of its predecessor – the All-Union society “Znanie” – ensures succession of ideas of public education, the richest experience in the knowledge dissemination, the best traditions of education.

Now, IA “Znanie” unites republican, regional, urban and local societies “Znanie” of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Estonia, the largest educational and enlightenment organizations and associations of the Russian Federation.

Today, being the most authoritative non-governmental organization in the field of knowledge dissemination, IA “Znanie” is an international union of about 30 NPOs (non-governmental organizations) from the entire world. Its members are educational organizations of the USA, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Czech and Slovakia, Rumania, Bulgaria and other countries. The activity of the International Association “Znanie” and its member organizations in various countries is focused on popularization and dissemination of the humanities and technical knowledge, the attendance at large international and regional conferences and workshops, new technologies of knowledge dissemination.

IA “Znanie” cooperates actively with the authoritative international organizations, cultural and educational centers of different countries.