Nikolay Baranskiy

Nikolay Nikolayevich Baransky (Russian: Николай Николаевич Баранский) (15 (July 27) 1881, Tomsk — November 20, 1963, Moscow) — Soviet economic geographer, founder of Soviet Rayon (Regional) school of economic geography, corresponding member of Soviet Academy of Sciences (1939), Hero of Socialist Labour (1962), winner of the Stalin prize (1952).

Biography

Nikolay Baransky was born in Tomsk in a family of the teacher. Since sixteen years participated in activity of illegal circles which consisted basically of typographical workers. In 1898 has joined RSDLP. In 1899 had graduated from grammar school with a gold medal and entered law department of Tomsk University. During his studies he continued to be engaged in public work. In 1901 has been excluded from university for participation in student's demonstration. Soon after that he has written the first geographical work, concerning property stratification of immigrants in one of villages of the Barnaul district (published in 1907).

In 1902 joined Siberian social-democratic group, which later joined «Siberian Social-Democratic Union – RSDLP Committee». In 1906-08 he was engaged in revolutionary activity, has been three times arrested, long time was in custody. After release from prison, he left party and lived in Ufa. In years 1910-1914 Baranskiy studied at economic branch of Moscow commercial institute. After graduation he worked in the Zemgor committee. In 1917 he joined the ranks of Mensheviks-internationalists (in 1920 he became a Bolshevik).

In 1919-20 worked in Supreme Soviet of the National Economy.

Baransky led research in areas of regional economic geography and geography of cities.^[1] Baransky is the author of several textbooks on economic geography of the USSR for high schools, works on social and economic geography and economic cartography.

Nikolay Baransky has been awarded 3 Orders of Lenin, 2 other orders and medals.^[2]. He is buried on Novodevichy Cemetery. In Tomsk, memorial plaque is placed on the house where he lived. Volcano on Iturup island and street in Alma-Ata are named in his honour.

Teaching and scientific activity

• In 1920-21 taught at the Siberian higher party school, in 1921 has moved to Moscow where taught in a number of educational institutions:
• 1921-29 — the Higher party school
• 1927-30 — 2nd Moscow university, professor, chair of economic geography founded by S. V.Bernstein-Koganom ^[3][4]
• 1929 — Baranskiy has organized chair of economic geography of the USSR at Moscow State University geographical department, was its manager in 1929—1941 and 1943—1946
• 1933-38 professor at Institute of the world economy and world politics. Chair of economic geography
• 1936-40 professor in 2nd Moscow State University, Chair of economic geography

In 1939 Baranskiy was elected corresponding member of Soviet Academy of Sciences. In 1946 he was nominated for election to full member of Soviet Academy of Sciences, but refused the nomination and supported Lev Berg ^[5].

Under the direction of Baransky Soviet regional school became dominating field in the Soviet economic geography. Baransky authored several textbooks on economic geography of the USSR for high schools, works on social and economic geography and economic cartography.

Works

• Economic geography of the USSR: the review on State Planning Committee areas. М; Л: Giza, 1926
• the Short course of economic geography. М; Л: Giza, 1928.
• Geography of the USSR: the Textbook for high school. М: Учпедгиз, 1933.
• Economic geography of the USA.: p. 1: the General review. - М: Institute of the international. Relations, 1946.
• the Historical review of textbooks of geography (1876–1934). М: Географгиз, 1954.
• Economic geography in high school. Economic geography in the higher school: Сб. Articles. - М: Географгиз, 1957.
• Economic geography. Economic cartography. - М: Географгиз, 1960.
• the Technique of teaching of economic geography. M.:Учпедгиз, 1960.

See also

• Department of Economic And Social Geography of Russia
• MSU Faculty of Geography
• Nikolay Kolosovskiy

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ [2]
3. ^ N.N.Baransky «Three professors, three friends at the head of the Soviet economic geography»
4. ^ http://www.ras.ru/members/chronology.aspx the Biography on a site of the Russian Academy of Sciences
5. ^ http://uni-persona.srcc.msu.su/site/authors/vernadsky/1939.htm

Persondata
Name	Baransky
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1881
Place of birth
Date of death	1963
Place of death