The Pete Quiñones Show Reading Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together' w/ Dr Matthew Raphael Johnson - Part 67
Sep 3, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Matthew Raphael Johnson, a seasoned researcher on Russian history and political ideology, shares compelling insights on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's '200 Years Together.' They dissect the financial backers of the Bolshevik revolution, revealing surprising ties to Western capitalism. The conversation also delves into Churchill's takes on Zionism and Bolshevism, the intriguing political journey of M.M. Grusenberg, and the complexities of Jewish leaders within Bolshevik Russia. The duo emphasizes the importance of understanding historical narratives amid political turbulence.
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Western Money Built Soviet Industry
- Anthony Sutton's research shows Western banks and corporations materially built Soviet industrial capacity.
- This undermines the simple Cold War narrative that capitalism and communism were strictly opposed.
Profit Often Trumped Ideology
- Deep commercial and institutional ties meant political leaders often couldn't fully block trade with the USSR.
- Johnson argues ideology didn't stop profit-driven cooperation between rivals.
Intelligentsia's Long USSR Enthusiasm
- Many Western intellectuals admired the USSR despite repression because they saw a promise of a better system.
- Johnson says that admiration persisted into mid-century until Vietnam-era disillusionment.
