The Bolshevik seizure of power — not the mass uprising of Soviet mythology, but a carefully planned coup by a small, disciplined party that exploited the chaos and indecision of the Provisional Government.
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Highlights
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A small, organized group can seize power from a larger but disorganized majority
The Bolsheviks had no majority support, but they were organized, decisive, and willing to use force. The Provisional Government had legitimacy but no organization and no will to fight.
Once a revolutionary regime is established, removing it requires even more violence than creating it
Duncan traces how the Bolshevik coup — achievable because institutions were weak — immediately began building new institutions designed to prevent its own overthrow.