at this point in history it's pretty clear that both sides of the cold war were two sides of the same medal and playing along. you don't have to be operation paperclip rocket scientist to see right away that few domains that were utilized as rainbows over iron curtain were science, medicine, culture, etc.. The science was paraded as something akin to holy cow that is impossible to subvert, but by now it's pretty clear that great combinator Dr Evil isn't exactly dumb himself. Keep in mind that in 1977 USSR passed third constitution establishing new class of people called "intelligentsia". So that year should be considered the real break up and fall of the USSR, not perestroika or 1991 bullshit.