1. Composition and Representation:
Soviets: Soviets were councils composed of elected representatives from workers, soldiers, and peasants. They were grassroots organizations formed at the local level and sought to represent the interests of the working class.
Duma: The Duma was a legislative assembly established by Tsar Nicholas II in 1906. It consisted of elected members from different social groups and was intended to provide a limited form of representative government.
2. Purpose and Authority:
Soviets: Soviets aimed to promote the workers' interests and exert political power on behalf of the working class. They often served as local organs of revolutionary activity during the 1905 Revolution and later the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.
Duma: The Duma's primary function was to pass legislation and approve government budgets. However, its powers were limited as the Tsar had the final say on all matters and could dissolve the Duma at will.
3. Role in the Revolution:
Soviets: Soviets played a crucial role in the revolutionary movements in Russia. They were central in organizing strikes, protests, and the eventual seizure of power by the Bolsheviks in the November Revolution of 1917.
Duma: The Duma had limited influence in bringing about systemic change. It served as a platform for political debate and criticism of the government but did not possess the authority or support to challenge the Tsar's rule.
In essence, the soviets represented the grassroots power and aspirations of the working class, while the Duma was an attempt by the Tsarist government to create a controlled representative body without relinquishing its absolute authority. The soviets eventually emerged as the dominant political force, leading to the collapse of the Tsarist regime and the rise of the Soviet Union.