The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 87
Nov 19, 2025
Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a specialist in Russian history, shares deep insights on Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together.' He discusses the paraffin affair of 1922, revealing layers of NEP-era corruption and Jewish involvement in smuggling and scams. Johnson critiques how narratives distort historical truths, particularly concerning Jewish experiences under communism. The conversation also touches on international perceptions of Soviet propaganda, the failed OZET colonization plan, and the impact of historical framing on Jewish identity and politics.
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Choosing Quality Of Life For A Pet
- Matthew Raphael Johnson recounts his cat Marcel's tumor diagnosis and the surgeon's recommendation to remove the entire lower jaw.
- He decided against aggressive surgery because Marcel remained happy and was managed with pain medication.
Kerosene Scandal Helped End NEP
- The paraffin (kerosene) scandal showed how NEP-era private traders acted as state agents to exploit scarce resources for profit.
- That corruption helped fuel party anti-Semitism and contributed to ending the NEP.
NEP Policies Hit Jewish Middlemen Hardest
- Under NEP Jews dominated small trade and crafts, and later policies targeted private enterprise which disproportionately impacted Jewish merchants.
- Rising taxation and political pressure dismantled NEP and pushed many entrepreneurs into bureaucracy or exile.
