# Nikolai Bukharin > Russian revolutionary and politician (1888–1938) **Wikidata**: [Q186709](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186709) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Bukharin) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nikolai-bukharin ## Summary Nikolai Bukharin (1888–1938) was a Russian revolutionary, economist, and politician who played a pivotal role in the early Soviet state. He is best known for his theoretical contributions to Marxist economics and as a leading figure in the Communist Party during the 1920s and early 1930s. ## Biography - Born: October 9, 1888, Moscow, Russian Empire - Nationality: Russian (later Soviet) - Education: Studied law and economics; affiliated with Moscow State University and the Institute of Red Professors - Known for: Marxist economic theory, leadership in the Communist Party, editor of Pravda - Employer(s): Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Pravda newspaper, S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Natural Science and Technology - Field(s): Economics, political theory, journalism, philosophy ## Contributions Nikolai Bukharin made several key intellectual and institutional contributions: - **Theoretical Works**: Authored *Ekonomika soveteskogo gosudarstva* (*Economics of the Soviet State*, 1929) and *Teoriya i praktika narodnogo khozyaystva* (*Theory and Practice of the National Economy*, 1927), which shaped early Soviet economic policy. - **Leadership in the Communist Party**: Served as a member of the Politburo and Central Committee, advocating for the New Economic Policy (NEP) and later opposing Stalin’s rapid industrialization. - **Editor of Pravda**: From 1917 to 1929, Bukharin was a key editorial voice in the Communist Party’s official newspaper, shaping ideological discourse. - **Institute Leadership**: Became the first director of the S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Natural Science and Technology on February 28, 1932, where he oversaw early Soviet scientific historiography. - **Ideological Influence**: Developed theories on socialist economics, particularly in opposition to Trotskyism and Stalinism, advocating for a more gradualist approach to collectivization. ## FAQs **What roles did Nikolai Bukharin hold in the Soviet government?** Bukharin was a high-ranking member of the Communist Party, serving in the Politburo and Central Committee. He was also a key contributor to *Pravda*, the party’s official newspaper, and directed the S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Natural Science and Technology from its founding in 1932. **What were Bukharin’s major writings?** His major works include *Economics of the Soviet State* (1929) and *Theory and Practice of the National Economy* (1927), which outlined his views on socialist economic development and critiqued both Trotskyist and Stalinist policies. **Why was Bukharin executed in 1938?** Bukharin was arrested during Stalin’s Great Purge and charged with treason. He was executed on March 15, 1938, after a show trial, accused of conspiring against the Soviet state—a charge widely viewed as politically motivated. **What was Bukharin’s stance on economic policy?** Bukharin supported the New Economic Policy (NEP) and favored a slower, more market-oriented path to socialism, opposing Stalin’s forced collectivization and rapid industrialization. ## Why They Matter Nikolai Bukharin was one of the most influential Marxist theorists of the early Soviet Union. His intellectual contributions shaped debates on socialist economic development and party ideology. Though ultimately purged by Stalin, his ideas continued to influence leftist thought and critiques of Soviet policy. His legacy is significant in understanding the ideological diversity within early Bolshevism and the tragic consequences of Stalinist repression. ## Notable For - Being a leading theorist of the Communist Party and a member of the Politburo - Advocating for the New Economic Policy (NEP) and opposing Stalin’s rapid industrialization - Serving as editor of *Pravda*, the Communist Party’s official newspaper - Founding and directing the S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Natural Science and Technology - Being posthumously rehabilitated after Stalin’s era - Influencing Marxist economic theory through works like *Economics of the Soviet State* - Being executed during the Great Purge in 1938 after a show trial ## Body ### Early Life and Education Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin was born on October 9, 1888, in Moscow, within the Russian Empire. He studied law and economics, affiliating with institutions such as Moscow State University and the Institute of Red Professors. His early intellectual development was shaped by Marxist theory, and he became politically active during the revolutionary period of the early 20th century. ### Political Career and Ideological Contributions Bukharin emerged as a leading figure in the Bolshevik movement and became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He was a key participant in shaping party ideology, particularly during the 1920s. As a member of the Central Committee and Politburo, he advocated for the New Economic Policy (NEP), which allowed for limited market mechanisms within a socialist framework. He was a prominent critic of both Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution and Stalin’s push for rapid industrialization and forced collectivization. Bukharin believed in a more gradualist approach, arguing that the peasantry should not be antagonized but rather integrated into the socialist economy. ### Work in the Media Bukharin served as an editor of *Pravda*, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, from 1917 to 1929. His writings in the paper helped shape ideological discourse and party policy. He used the platform to promote his vision of a more moderate socialist transition, contrasting with the radical policies later adopted under Stalin. ### Leadership at the S.I. Vavilov Institute On February 28, 1932, Bukharin became the first director of the S.I. Vavilov Institute for the History of Natural Science and Technology, a research body under the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. In this role, he oversaw the early development of Soviet scholarship in the history of science and technology. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the institute’s foundational research agenda. ### Major Publications Bukharin authored several influential works: - *Economics of the Soviet State* (1929) — A comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding the Soviet economy. - *Theory and Practice of the National Economy* (1927) — A critique of economic orthodoxy and a defense of the NEP. These works were widely read within the Soviet intelligentsia and influenced debates on economic policy. ### Conflict with Stalin and Downfall Bukharin’s ideological disagreements with Joseph Stalin culminated in his political isolation. By the late 1920s, Stalin had consolidated power and began promoting rapid industrialization and collectivization. Bukharin’s opposition to these policies marked him as a political enemy. In 1937, during the Great Purge, Bukharin was arrested and accused of treason. He was subjected to a show trial in 1938 and executed on March 15, 1938. His death was part of a broader campaign to eliminate perceived threats to Stalin’s authority. ### Posthumous Rehabilitation Following Stalin’s death and Nikita Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization campaign, Bukharin was posthumously rehabilitated. His contributions to Marxist theory and Soviet economics were reassessed, and he was recognized as a victim of political repression. ### Legacy and Influence Bukharin’s ideas continue to influence Marxist theory and critiques of Soviet development. His advocacy for a more moderate socialist transition contrasts sharply with the authoritarian turn under Stalin. His life and death remain emblematic of the ideological struggles and political purges that defined the Soviet era. ## References 1. Nikolay I. Bukharin (1888–1938) 2. Union List of Artist Names. 2013 3. Integrated Authority File 4. BnF authorities 5. Catalog of the German National Library 6. Virtual International Authority File 7. CiNii Research 8. SNAC 9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 10. Bukharin, Nikolay 11. Babelio 12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 13. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe) 14. LIBRIS. 2017 15. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands 16. Catalogo of the National Library of India