Selected bibliography of the works of I.I. Potekhin, Soviet Africanist, 1947-1964

Since the 20th Congress of the C.P.S.U. in 1956, a steadily increasing interest in the countries of Africa has manifested itself in a growing number of books and articles published in the Soviet Union. One of the contributors to this literature was I.I. Potekhin, whose production covers a period beginning in 1932 and ending at his death in 1964. His works published between 1947 and 1964 cover many facets of Soviet thought concerning the developing nations of Africa. Although many of his works are repetitious and obviously propaganda pieces, his more serious work reveals the changing Soviet image of the countries of Africa and of their problems. A discernible change toward a more realistic appraisal took place after 1958. This general review of the life and works of I.I. Potekhin provides information and insights on Soviet African policy: Pre-1947 – South Africa and the Bantu – The state of Soviet African ethnographic studies – Ghana – Theoretical writings – African history and the colonial era – Problems of the newly emerged nations of Africa.