John M. Romero

My students played Dimma Davidoff's original "Mafia" today in class. Davidoff was a psych grad student at Moscow State in 1986 when he came up with the game, whose basic principle he describes as the conflict between an "informed minority vs. uninformed minority." 1/?

Oof.

Today, several students who had previously taken my Soviet survey said I need to use Mafia to teach the Terror. And seeing how bloodthirsty they became during gameplay, I think I agree...

Or how Muscovy only rose to prominence by being the Golden Horde's little errand boys.

NYC Mayoral Debate just makes me want to put on some NYHC. Time for some Cro-Mags, Youth of Today, Leeway...

Anyway, now I'm thinking about how to historicize "Mafia." Obviously, it was designed in a very specific historical context, but the game itself is also devoid of historical specificity. How should I get students thinking about the game's historicity? #gamestudies #historicalgamestudies 4/4

This is all for my "Collapse of the USSR class," in which we previously played a hacked Monopoly/Oligarchopoly, did a Soviet economic skit, and took a look at a deck-builder (all of these graciously borrowed from colleagues in the field). 3/?

We had previously played "Werewolf," which an American version of the game you can find on Amazon (we used the variant published by Stellar Factory). Whereas "Werewolf" felt a little too game-y and stiff, the students warmed up to Davidoff's "Mafia" quickly. Overall it was a better experience. 2/?

My students played Dimma Davidoff's original "Mafia" today in class. Davidoff was a psych grad student at Moscow State in 1986 when he came up with the game, whose basic principle he describes as the conflict between an "informed minority vs. uninformed minority." 1/?

Not strictly related, but a buddy of mine recently wrote a book about astrology, Hare Krishnas, Fomenko's New Chronology, and some other weirdo shit at the time of the Soviet collapse. Might be of interest to you... Kellner, the Spirit of Socialism.

This isn't so much a real take as sort of a "What If?" I like to consider, but the early Republic joining with Rev France to wage revolutionary wars of liberation across the Old and New Worlds would have been fantastic.

Or, even better, in a pile on the floor.

Good thing clean laundry can sit in the dryer indefinitely.

Published in the October 2025 issue!
"'I Wanted to Bite at the Chauvinists': Tatar History, Culture, and Politics during the Thaw"
John M. Romero @romerojohnm.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/russ...

This too:

What's the citation of the second image?

That's not what the chair said, though... Weird editorializing decision.

Next week, students will be playing Mafia/Werewolf, a "social deduction" game designed by psychology students at Moscow State University in 1986.

Now that I'm just about done running my version, I'll also be reaching out to her shortly to let her know it went!

Tempe

Alexis Peri at UMass Boston wrote about it in an @aseees.bsky.social Newsnet last year, so I reached out to her for her instructions. I've made additional tweaks, but mostly it's hers!

I've been playing a hacked version of Monopoly with my Collapse of the USSR students all week and it's been great. But each session I tweak things to make it harder for players to skate by, and easier for the randomly-selected oligarchs to seize control of properties and avoid taxes/prosecution.

The students at my current university are a little hit or miss about it, but the upper div students I had at Indiana U were SO enthralled and we had an amazing discussion.

Yo love assigning this video when discussing the new imperialism. It's textbook Orientalism.

Real big Calvin's dad energy

If only I could be so grossly incandescent.

God, I always hope that when I see a Millennial say something stupid I can at least blame it on them being an Elder Millennial (therefore not a REAL one) but she's younger than I am lol

It's Morgan Wallen all the way down

Weird how we just magically have to bail out farmers every time Trump is in charge. Weird economy.