The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-12
SOVIET ANTHRoPoLOGY

Z
In a recent book on the methodol-
ogy and theories Of anthropology,
r Professor Paul Radin described a
large school of bourgeois snthropol-
ogists who based their work on the
premise that primitive and colonial
peoples were inferior to their white
ruling classes. This premise, Of
course, is used as an theological de-
fense Of imperialist capitalism and
its exploitation Of colonial peoples.
Marxists have pointed out that
anthropology and its related fields
have from their inception been used
to prove the inherent biological
and social superiority Of the various
ruling classes. Today We find the
Nazis erecting numerous pseudo
sciences that preach the inferiority
Of the non-Aryans, and anthropol-
ogy and other "race-sciences" have
become the open political tools OF
German imperialism.
In other capitalist countries an
thropology plays the same role. The
functionalist school in England. for
example, is an theological extension
Of the British colonial Office. Their
studies of the culture and social or
ganizstion of backward peoples boil
down, in the final analysis, to crude
statements about the innate superb
ority Of the imperialists and the
best methods Of exploiting their COL
onial subjects.
Anthropology in the Soviet Union
has been freed of these shackles.
1t does not support any Of the false
concepts of racial or national su-
periority. The Soviet scientists study
mans biological and cultural heri-
tage, and are playing a large role
in preserving the records Of the
cultural backgrounds of the minor
nationalities in the U.SS.R.
A recent article in the Moscow
Daily News contains interesting in
formation on the status of Soviet
arthropology. 1t describes the
change that transformed the dis
cipiine from an apologize of the prac-
tees Of the ruling class into gen.
uine science and an effective de-
partment Of human knowledge.
Before the October Revolution an
thropologicsl research in Russia was
done entirely by small scientific So
cities and wealthy amateurs. The
field never attained the level Of a
highly systematized science. To
remedy this state of affairs the Mos
cow Institute of Anthropology was
established in 1921. During the next
decade 80 expeditions were organized
and sent to the various remote re-
gions Of the U.S.S.R. More than
10000 people were examined in the
course of these studies, and val
liable social, cultural and physical
data was accumulated. Physical an
thropology was not neglected, al
though the Soviet scientists attack
the prevailing bourgeois custom of
picking out some anatomical char
acteristic Of primitive people (such
as unusually long arms or smaller
brain development) to prove their
thesis that the ruling class rules
by virtue of its biological superior
ity.
In addition there have been many
contributions to the fields of ethnog-
raply and archaeology. Because Of
the Institutes close connections with
industry, it is able to profit from
finds that are made during indus
trial construction and excavation.
Skeletal and other materials are
Immediately turned over TO the In
stitute for investigation.
During the construction Of the
Volga- Moscow Canal, twelve pre-
historic memorials were discovered
along the line Of work. The sites
OF dwellings dating from the tran