ABSTRACT

This chapter aim is to provide an insight into some of the key developments in geography and cognate sciences concerning understandings of the natural physical environment during the decade following Stalin's death, thus coinciding more or less with Nikita Khrushchev's term in power. It also explores the significance of the shift in social and political emphases post-1953 encouraged debate and associated revisionist activity throughout Soviet society and provided an invigorating backdrop to the specific themes. First, a key development follows the death of Stalin was a shift in the official stance on the nature-society debate. For some, Gerasimov's work in this area was little more than political opportunism, responding as it did to the shifting official stance on nature-society interaction and the growing importance of conservation, efficiency, and latterly, environmental concerns within the Soviet Union. The final section reflected on associated debate in the geographical literature and highlighted the developing work of Gerasimov with respect to constructive geography.