February 1917 and the Problem of Dual Power

The February Revolution began with women textile workers striking on International Women's Day, 23 February 1917 (8 March by the Western calendar), over bread shortages. Strikes spread, soldiers refused to fire on crowds and joined them, and within days Nicholas II abdicated. Power was divided between the Provisional Government, formed by liberal and moderate Duma politicians, and the Petrograd Soviet, a council of workers' and soldiers' deputies.

This 'dual power' resembles Brinton's moderate phase: moderates held formal authority, while radicals had popular support. The Provisional Government kept Russia in the war and postponed land reform until a Constituent Assembly could meet, choices that cost it support. Compared with France in 1789, where the National Assembly gained authority, Russia's moderates never controlled the armed forces, since the Soviet's Order No. 1 told soldiers to obey their committees.