Michael F. Hamm

Liberal Politics in Wartime Russia: An Analysis of the Progressive Bloc

Although cooperation amoong the moderate caucuses of the Duma was increasing before tlle war, the fornmation of the Bloc in August 1915 resulted largely from a serious decline in Russias military position. The Galician retreat, whiclh enabled the Germlan armies to occupy large sections of Russias populous western provinces, confirmied to the parliamentary leaders that the governmiient was incapable of meeting the needs of a country at war. The Duma represented the only national center of autLhority, other than the inept and discredited governmenit. To most moderates, it could play a critical role by helping coordinate vigorous mobilization of the emnpires resources, both natural and hunman. Furtlhernmore, at a time of panic and despair, by manifesting uniity and cooperation the Dumia could boost the morale and confidence of the army and the beleagtuered populace. The formation of a majority coalition, united around a pertinent legislative program, cotild demionstrate to the government and to the public that the Duma was capable of playing a constructive wartime role. It could eliminate the pretext whiclh the governmieint had used to adjourn the Dtima earlier-that it was disorganized and ineffective, and that it therefore could not remain in session during periods of national crisis.2 The idea of a left-center coalition in the Dunma was discussed as early as January 1914, on the initiative of the Progressists. A. I. Konovalov in particular saw a coalition as a means of recovering prestige for the Duma among the