Dual Power

• With Nicholas II no longer in power, there were two bodies competing for power in Russia.

  • The Duma and the Soviet.
• The Provisional Committee of the Duma formed itself into the Provisional Government on 2 March.

  • This was made up of parties across the political spectrum but no Monarchists or Bolsheviks.
• On 2 March, the Petrograd Soviet was only 3 days old but had 3,000 members from a range of left-wing political parties.

  • The Bolsheviks at this point were only a small minority.
• A situation of shared power between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet emerged.

  • This is known as Dual Power.
• The PG and the Soviet found it easy to agree on some initial steps.
• They immediately issued an 8-point programme which included:

  • Amnesty for political prisoners.
  • Total religious and political freedom.
  • The promise of new elections to a constituent assembly.
  • The abolition of capital punishment.
• On 16 March, the independence of Poland was recognised.
• However, the PG drifted right and the Soviet shifted left and there were major issues that needed addressing.
• Order No 1 stated that soldiers were to only accept orders from the PG that the Soviet approved.

  • Without direct control of the army, it is hard to see the PG as having true power.