The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 72
Sep 20, 2025
Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a seasoned researcher and expert in Russian history, joins to dissect Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together.' The discussion dives into Ukraine's tumultuous politics of 1917-1922, focusing on Skoropadsky's influence and the Masonic connections of the Directorate. They explore the intensity and complexities of the Petliura pogroms, analyzing peasant versus organized violence. The episode also touches on Jewish experiences during the White Movement and how perceptions of Bolshevism intertwined with anti-Semitic actions.
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Ukraine's Lost Moderate Path
- Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson argues Ukraine's only realistic chance was limited independence closely tied to Russia, exemplified by Hetman Skoropadsky's rule.
- The Directorate's takeover destroyed that moderate path and radicalized politics, worsening Ukraine's stability.
Directorate's Philo-Semitism And Anti-Communist Reaction
- Johnson emphasizes the Directorate was largely philo-Semitic at elite levels due to Masonic influence and opposed communism rather than Jews per se.
- He frames much anti-Jewish violence as anti-communist reaction to Bolshevik participation.
Projection Explains Many Atrocities
- Johnson presents projection as key: atrocities attributed to peasants were often reactions to Bolshevik violence led by many Jews.
- He argues many Jewish militants were armed and politically active, so reprisals were targeted at combatants, not neutral civilians.
