Russian Democratization
A history of democratization and democratic slide in Russia.
Contents
Precursors
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire had existed as a sovereign state for centuries.
World War 1
World War 1 destablized the Russian Empire at a time of rising nationalism among all imperial polities.
February Revolution
The February Revolution led to a provisional government that organized elections.
The 1918 Constitution established the short-lived Russian Republic.
October Revolution
The October Revolution preempted the first elections of the Russian Republic. The Bolsheviks seized power and established a Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, a constituent state in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Civil War
Anti-Bolshevik separatism erupted across Russia. Many small republics, such as the Don Republic, were established in the former empire. Among the new states, the Russian State had the best claim as a successor state; Kolchak was recognized at least nominally by all White movement commanders as the Supreme Ruler of Russia.