Key Debate 1 - To what extent was the PG doomed from the start

Was doomed:

Dual power system made the PG weak from the start - there was a lack of decisive authority as the PG had to share power with the Petrograd Soviets.

Order no.1 stated that workers must not obey the PG without permission from the Petrograd Soviets. - This made the PG subservient to the PS from the start.

The Petrograd Soviets also had 3000 delegates which was a huge amount for a government chamber - this made it close to impossible to control them

The PG inherited a terrible situation - the inflation and hunger was terrible.

Was not doomed:

Implementation of ‘Death squads’ by the PG to combat deserting soldiers made issues worse as they killed landlords out of fear to secure their position.

The PG were arguably way too slack on opposition - they allowed freedom of press and speech and following the July days where the Bolsheviks attempted to overthrow the government he allowed the Bolshevik party to continue instead arresting only the leaders.

The PG also dealt with the peasant land revolts terribly - they used army to forcefully take back land which peasants had seized - this only made the peasants more hostile and the PG less popular.