Tony Rocchi

Tony Rocchi05.11.2024

World War One was the catalyst that made possible the speedy collapse of the Russian state and society after the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas II in the February Revolution of 1917. All sectors of society in the Russian Empire underwent major changes both on the war front and on the home front from 1914 to […]

Tony Rocchi29.10.2024

The tumultuous eight months between the February and October Revolutions of 1917 witnessed many types of violence, but terrorism and even state violence were not among them. Instead, the lands of the former Russian Empire were rocked by many incidents of mass violence from below. Politically motivated killings often happened during 1917, but political parties […]

Tony Rocchi05.10.2024

One of the greatest unknowns about the history of the Russian Revolution and Civil War of 1917-1922 is the extent of political terrorism during these years. There were many terrorist attacks and politically motivated killings during the Revolution of 1917-1922. Note that historians now tend to combine the February and October Revolutions of 1917 and […]

Tony Rocchi19.09.2024

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The year 1908 was somewhat pivotal for Leo Tolstoy, the world’s greatest writer. In that year, Tolstoy wrote «I Cannot Be Silent» in which he condemned the government for using violence against revolutionaries and ordinary people during the Revolution of 1905-1907. As Tolstoy wrote: “You say the atrocities committed by the revolutionaries are terrible. I […]

Tony Rocchi13.09.2024

Leo Tolstoy, the world’s greatest writer, is often glorified as the apostle of non-violent resistance to evil. Tolstoy has been hailed as a Christian anarchist who inspired the heroism of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As noted in the previous article, Tolstoy exonerated terrorists and revolutionaries in his letter “I Cannot Be Silent” […]

Tony Rocchi06.09.2024

The generation of terrorists in the Russian Empire between 1901-1911 constitute a unique generation in the history of European and world terrorism. This generation created mass terrorism in today’s world. These terrorists also found a supporter in Leo Tolstoy, the world’s greatest writer. The government’s decision in August 1906 to use speedy courts martial against […]

Tony Rocchi24.08.2024

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Political terrorism in the Russian Empire lasted from 1866 to 1911. This period was equivalent to two generations. One can divide the history of Russian terrorists into the story of the Great Known Generation of the members of the People’s Will from 1879-1894 and the story of the Great Unknown Generation of terrorists from different […]

Tony Rocchi17.08.2024

There are different ways of dividing the history of terrorism in Russia between 1866 and 1911. In my last article, I suggested that one way to look at the history of political terrorism in the Russian Empire is to divide it into two main periods. The period of the Great Known runs from 1879-1894. It […]

Tony Rocchi13.08.2024

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One way to look at the history of political terrorism in the Russian Empire is to divide it into two main periods. The period of the Great Known runs from 1879-1894. It is the history of the People’s Will (Народная Воля) whose members assassinated Tsar Alexander II on March 1, 1881. The period of the […]

Tony Rocchi02.08.2024

The ambivalence of many conservatives and reactionaries in Russia about political terrorism possibly did more harm to the government than we can imagine. In the long run, conservative ambivalence contributed to the collapse of the autocracy in the February Revolution of 1917. It is undoubtable that most conservatives and reactionaries condemned left-wing terrorism, but many […]

Tony Rocchi

Brave New World: Russian Society in 1917

Terrorism in the Year 1917: a Conspicuous Absence

Terrorism in the Revolution of 1917-1922: an even greater unknown

Tolstoy and the Culture of Violence in the Russian Empire

Leo Tolstoy: a Man of Contradictions

Leo Tolstoy and a Unique Generation of Terrorists

Two Generations of Terrorists in the Russian Empire

The Three Stages of Terrorism in the Russian Empire

One Great Known and One Great Unknown — Terrorism in Russia

Conservative Ambivalence about Terrorism in Russia: One More Aspect of the Terrorism Great Unknown

World War I Heroes In Memoriam: Part One

Build Where We Can, Not Where We Want

MUFG Bank Fires Worker for Stealing Over ¥1 Bil from Customers

Iran Ready for Confrontation or Cooperation