As part of a look into the life of Nikolai Bukharin I want to analyze some of his writings. As a prominent figure in the early history of the Soviet Union his thoughts will provide some insights into the appeal of Marxist theory. I will begin my reading with the ABC of Communism. I will begin with Bukharin because he experienced the heights of power, exile from leadership, and ultimately execution. I also selected Bukharin because he has been labeled “the golden boy of the revolution” and one of the great theorist of communism. The ABC of Communism has also been referred to by some as the communist bible.
With that short introduction let’s begin our analysis of the ABC of Communism which was originally published in 1920, with the first English edition published in 1922. I will record my thoughts as I read so I do not know what will be written next.
The Dedication
From the dedication of this book Bukharin outlines his vision of the proletariat which includes heroism, class-consciousness, and “its deadly hatred for capitalism, and its splendid impulse towards the creation of a new society.”
When an active participant in the Russian Revolution speaks about deadly hatred it carries additional weight. I found the word choice “splendid impulse” interesting when describing the creation of a new society. Written another way it is a magnificent sudden strong and unreflective urge to create a new society.
Creating a new society should be a deliberate action taken after careful consideration not as an impulse. It is also an appeal to your feelings. Don’t stop to think about your actions just strike out with deadly hatred to create this new society.
Bukharin is endorsing violence. Bukharin is encouraging the proletariat to impulsively kill their class-enemies and as a reward they will be viewed as heroes. It is important to note that this book was published during the midst of the Russian Civil War.
The dedication ends with references to warriors and martyrs, those who have been tortured, shot or hung. Bukharin is clearly acknowledging the cost in human lives to waging a revolution.
The Preface
The preface explains the purpose for the book and outlines it fairly well. The authors note:
“The ABC of Communism should, in our opinion, be an elementary textbook of communist knowledge. Daily experience of propagandists and agitators has convinced us of the urgent need for such a textbook.”
I find the terminology interesting. There is clearly a different role for propagandists and agitators. I hope further explanation between the roles of both is addressed later in the book.
The authors further explain:
“Every comrade who takes up this book should read it all through, so that he may acquire an idea of the aims and tasks of communism.”
When outlining potential flaws and shortcomings of the book the authors note that it was written in haste due to its necessity and also notes how the manuscript was almost destroyed in a bombing to explain why any errors may occur in the book.
The next part of this series will begin with the introduction.
William Wilberforce has been called an agitator for his commitment to ending the slave trade. One of his well known speeches on the subject was given on May 12, 1789.
Cardinal Richelieu has been hailed as a great statesman and as a subversive authoritarian. Depending on who you talk to he was a man needed to strengthen the monarchy in France, or he was a tyrant seeking personal power. Next week I will have a book review that may shed more light on Cardinal Richelieu.
When Lenin was working on his major writing projects he would often pace across the room formulating the ideas that he would write down by saying them out loud. Once he had the idea for what he wanted to write he would often repeat the idea to Nadezhda Krupskaya, who would provide feedback. Once this process was complete he would then write the ideas down.
Here is an AI rendering of what that might have looked like when he was drafting What is to be Done.
This month this community will focus on political subversion. What is subversion? When is it justified? What is the interplay between subversion and agitation? These are some of the topics to be discussed this month.
“You get used to the despot’s shortcomings, when they are not great vices, and the change of an autocratic ruler leads to involuntary fear.”
Sergei Trubetskoi
