Nikolai Bukharin
1888 – 1938 Russian Bolshevik theorist and editor of Pravda
The party's leading theorist, once Lenin's favorite, shot in the 1938 show trial.
- Religion
- Russian Orthodox background; a convinced atheist and Marxist.
- Affiliations
- Bolshevik Party; leading party theorist; head of the Comintern; executed in the last great show trial.
Bukharin was among the most gifted Bolshevik thinkers and defended the moderate New Economic Policy. He allied with Stalin against the left, then was crushed when Stalin turned to forced collectivization. He was the central figure of the 1938 show trial and was executed.
Connections
- ally of Alexei Rykov — Fellow leader of the Right Opposition, tried and shot with him.
- rival of Joseph Stalin — Allied with then destroyed by Stalin in the purges.
- rival of Joseph Stalin — Allied with then destroyed him, having him shot in 1938.
- ally of Mikhail Tomsky — Fellow leader of the Right Opposition.
- associate of Vladimir Lenin — A favored younger theorist Lenin called the party's darling.