1. Weakness of the Provisional Government:
Following the February Revolution in 1917, which toppled the Tsarist regime, a Provisional Government was established that failed to address the political and economic challenges effectively. This government faced challenges from left-wing factions, including the Bolsheviks led by Vladimir Lenin.
2. Bolshevik Political Strategy:
The Bolsheviks were highly organized and politically savvy. Lenin successfully employed strategies such as the call for "Peace, Land, and Bread" to gain support from peasants, soldiers, and workers who were disaffected with the political and socio-economic situation.
3. Political Divisions:
Russian society at the time was deeply divided on various issues, and there were several political factions competing for power, including liberal democrats, conservatives, and even other socialists groups aside from the Bolsheviks. The provisional government and its ineffective policies could not bridge these divisions effectively.
4. October Revolution:
In November 1917, the Bolsheviks orchestrated an armed insurrection in Petrograd known as the "October Revolution." They managed to overcome provisional government's forces and gain control of key institutions, including the Winter Palace.
5. Post-October Revolution Developments:
Following their acquisition of power, the Bolsheviks were met with resistance from rival political groups that led to the Russian Civil War, which ultimately solidified their authority over most of Russia by the early 1920s.
Therefore, it was not the result of a single external entity enabling the Bolshevik government, but rather an accumulation of multiple internal factors within Russian society that allowed the Bolsheviks to gain control and eventually established a new Soviet state under their leadership.