The power of «green gold»: the imaginary and the real in the views of specialists in the forest industry

The review analyzes the provisions and conclusions of E. Kochetkova's monograph devoted to the study of the experience of state socialism in relation to nature in the late Soviet period. Attention is drawn to the author's recognition of the special role of specialists in the forestry industry in making decisions on the modernization of the country. The importance of the author's judgment on the coexistence in the policy of the Soviet government of the desire for extensive exploitation of natural resources and the desire for technological modernity is emphasized. This is demonstrated by the examples of the development of the eastern regions of the country, experiments with alternative resources. A general conclusion is drawn about the importance of the monograph from the point of view of rethinking the relationship between the state, industry, society and nature.