The political theater of August 1917: stage and backstage

Analyzing the monograph by A.B. Nikolaev "The State Conference of 1917: convocation, composition, activity", the author raises the question of the nature of the emerging political system of Russia in 1917, about its internal contradictions, which contributed to the holding of crowded forums, the establishment of new collegial authorities. In fact, there is a significant discrepancy between the institutional design of power and the categorical language of its description, between the social experience of those who tried to determine the political agenda, and the agenda itself, the popular slogans of that time. For this reason, the course of the Moscow State Conference, which became the subject of A.B. Nikolaev's close attention, is very indicative for understanding the political players of that time: they did not fully represent the "game" in which they participated. Moreover, they were unable to determine its rules.