The Kornilov Affair
In August 1917, General Lavr Kornilov, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, was perceived as a threat by Alexander Kerensky's Provisional Government. There were fears that Kornilov aimed to seize power and establish a military dictatorship. The details of the Kornilov Affair are complex, with miscommunication, misunderstandings, and perhaps intentional disinformation playing roles in escalating tensions.
There's some debate about the true nature of Kornilov's actions and whether he intended to overthrow the Provisional Government or was merely attempting to restore order in Petrograd (modern-day St. Petersburg). It's also debated whether Kerensky might have initially tried to use Kornilov to his advantage before turning against him.
In any case, the situation spiraled out of control. Kerensky's government spread rumors of an impending counter-revolutionary move by Kornilov. The Provisional Government then armed the Petrograd workers, including the Bolshevik Red Guards, to defend the city. Kornilov's troops never reached Petrograd. The revolt failed, partly due to the efforts of railway workers who disrupted the movement of Kornilov's troops and partly due to Bolshevik agitators who successfully convinced many of Kornilov's troops to desert. The Kornilov Affair had two significant outcomes:
- Weakening of the Provisional Government: Kerensky's position became much weaker after the affair. His decision to arm the Bolsheviks and other leftist groups in Petrograd essentially gave them the means to later lead an armed uprising against his government.
- Strengthening of the Bolsheviks: The Bolsheviks emerged as the primary defenders of Petrograd against Kornilov's perceived threat. This boosted their popularity and credibility among the masses, setting the stage for their successful seizure of power in the October Revolution.
The Kornilov Affair and the QAnon movement are both characterized by the propagation and belief in conspiracy theories or rumors, which fueled political and social mobilization. In each case, these narratives emerged from a backdrop of deep mistrust in official accounts or mainstream understandings, causing significant shifts in the political landscape. While the Kornilov Affair led to the weakening of the Provisional Government and the strengthening of the Bolsheviks, the Q movement influenced political discourse and actions within certain segments of U.S. society. Moreover, both instances demonstrate the tangible real-world effects of beliefs based on unsubstantiated claims, be it the arming of groups in 1917 Russia or the real-world protests and incidents inspired by Q. These episodes also underscore the role of ambiguities and misunderstandings in shaping events, as the true intentions behind Kornilov's actions and the evolving claims of Q are both subjects of debate and interpretation.
