A. A. Il`yukhov An Attempt to Create a Coalitional Soviet Authority in 1917: A Uniform Socialist Government

Abstract: This article is a study of an attempt to create a so-called uniform socialist government during the period of the Great Russian Revolution of 1917. It evaluates the activity of a real socialistic coalition of Bolsheviks and Left Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) between the end of November 1917 and July 1918. It attempts to provide answers to controversial questions: Would it be possible to create a broad socialist coalition on the eve of and immediately after the October coup (the efforts of Vikzhel)? Was a union under the authority of the Left SRs and Bolsheviks doomed to collapse? How should this union be evaluated—did it bring good or bad? What circumstances and reasons—natural or artificial (the rebellion of 6 July, the murder of von Mirbach, and so on)—brought on the collapse of this union? Who is guiltier for the collapse of the union—the Bolsheviks or the Left SRs? And other questions. The work practices of the “Soviet coalition” in the center (the government) and outlying areas are shown on a broad documentary basis.

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