This is a weekly series of presentations on the History of Modern Russia starting with the Revolution of 1917. In this episode we consider the following questions: How to explain the sudden collapse of Nicholas II? Was that a revolution or a simple collapse of the state? What were the major political parties in Russia and what did they want ? Who were the Bolsheviks, the Mensheviks, the Socialist Revolutionaries and what was the dynamics of political struggle in 1917. Why did the politics of 1917 always escalated to the extreme demands? Why were the Bolsheviks popular. Was there an alternative to Bolshevik seizure of power? If they were so popular why did the Bolsheviks lose the first free and open universal franchise elections?

What did the Bolsheviks promise and could they fulfill their promises?