The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 78
Oct 11, 2025
Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a researcher and former professor specializing in Russian history, joins the discussion. He dives into the societal impacts of the New Economic Policy on peasants and the complexities of Jewish reactions to Bolshevism. The conversation highlights the pragmatic support from some Jewish leaders for the Soviet regime amidst fears of pogroms. Dr. Johnson also critiques the Jewish intelligentsia's failure to confront revolutionary outcomes, examining the internal accountability needed within Jewish communities.
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NEP Was A Tactical Stabilizer
- The NEP temporarily loosened economic control to avoid mass starvation and stabilized the countryside.
- It helped peasants recover while the Bolsheviks continued repression and executions in parallel.
Emigrant Divisions Over Bolshevik Links
- Jewish émigrés displayed divisions about Bolshevik ties and social contact abroad.
- Isaac Babel's behavior illustrated social rejection tied to political association.
Support For USSR As Pogrom Prevention
- Many Jewish leaders tolerated or supported the Soviet state to prevent pogroms despite its repression.
- That pragmatic stance prioritized security over opposing Soviet abuses.
