The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson - Episodes 41-50
Oct 20, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a researcher and former professor specializing in Russian history, joins to analyze Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together'. They delve into the tumultuous events in Odessa in 1905, dissecting the roles of students, pogroms, and media biases. Johnson critiques historical narratives and examines Jewish emigration, assimilation, and cultural influences. Their conversation reveals the complex interplay of revolutionary agendas, foreign financial support, and the socio-political landscape that shaped early 20th century Russia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Odessa As Revolutionary Epicenter
- Odessa was the epicenter of revolutionary activity in 1905 and heavily influenced later events.
- Matthew Raphael Johnson links Jewish-majority institutions there to the broader revolutionary movement.
Revolutionaries Weren't Typical Proletariat
- Johnson argues many revolutionary leaders came from upper classes, not proletarians.
- He emphasizes the disconnect between Bolshevik leaders and ordinary workers.
Universities As Revolutionary Hubs
- Solzhenitsyn and Johnson stress coordinated revolutionary tactics and university autonomy.
- Universities became hubs supplying arms, funds, and leadership for uprisings.
