A Failed Compromise About Power (Fall 1917)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the reasons why attempts to compromise and establish a new social government in 1917 ended in failure. This paper focuses on multiple and sometimes heated discussions among leaders of different parties and strong discussions that took place within the same parties. In autumn 1917 the opportunity occurred for all socialist parties to create a single blog of forces on the Left. This issue had been resolved in September during the Democratic Conference that potentially could easily establish a “homogeneous” socialist power. However, after prolonged debate, the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries preferred an alliance with the Liberals. Temporary hopes for a peaceful union and creating a homogeneous socialist government during the meeting was not meant to be. The hope for uniting all socialist forces in Russia again took place again at the end of October, right before the opening of the second meeting of the Soviets. Unfortunately, after a hostile discussion, the Mensheviks and SRs left the meeting and thus gave an opportunity to the Bolsheviks to establish their power. The latest attempt to initiate negotiations of all democratic parties, in order to find a compromise among them, was undertaken at the initiative of Vikzhel. The Bolsheviks were willing to compromise, provided that the “controlling stake” in the government remained with them. The Mensheviks and SRs clearly refused this offer, and compromise was not reached.