Absztrakt

The Hungarian Academy of Sciences established a relationship with the newly founded Cuban Academy of Sciences in 1963. From then on, it became a regular practice to send Hungarian scientists – almost exclusively specializing in the natural sciences – to Cuba. Like scientists from other countries in the socialist camp, their aim was to act as a “catalyst,” advancing the scientific development of the Caribbean nation after it joined the ranks of socialist countries. The paper examines reports and correspondence by the researchers delegated to Cuba, as well as official documents of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, to determine how the scientific delegates approached their tasks and engaged with the host country. On one hand, the documents show that the scientists regarded their mission – sometimes lasting years – as a sacrifice, during which they were cut off from an advanced academic environment. On the other hand, the reports also reveal what made the task acceptable for them: first, the significantly higher salary compared to what they earned at home; and second, the opportunity to make genuine discoveries in an underexplored region. The findings also indicate that, unlike the documents of the higher academic administration, those produced by the researchers lack both ideological comments and signs of perceived civilizational superiority. At the same time, the researchers can be found to have occasionally complained about disorganization and the waste of resources, and often viewing scientists delegated from other so-called “friendly countries” as competitors.