The nature of dual power

• The Provisional Government, led by Prince Lvov, which picked up the reins of authority after the tsar’s abdication,was really the old duma in a new form.
• The Provisional Government's two crippling weaknesses were that it was not an elected body, having come into being as a rebellious committee of the old duma, refusing to disband at the tsar’s order.
• The Provisional Government lacked legitimate authority and, therefore, no constitutional claim on the loyalty of the Russian people.
• The Provisional Government was judged entirely on how well it dealt with the nation’s problems.
• The Provisional Government's authority was limited by its unofficial partnership with the Petrograd Soviet.
• There was considerable cooperation between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet at first, with some individuals being members of both bodies.
• Alexander Kerensky, the Social Revolutionary (SR) leader, was for a time chairman of the Soviet as well as a minister in the Provisional Government.
• Dual Power refers to The Petrograd Soviet and the Provisional Government sharing power
• a result of ‘dual power’ the existence of two political bodies increased the potential for political disagreement
• either body held very different views: 1. the provisional government consisted primarily of octobrists and kadets, who only wanted moderate change 2. the Petrograd soviet was composed of Mensheviks and social revolutionaries who wanted to give power to the working classes