To what extent was the revolution of February/March 1917, in Russia, due to the nature of Tsarism and the policies of Nicholas II (1894-1917)?

Admittedly, many of the problems in Russia leading to revolution can be linked directly and indirectly to the nature of Tsarism and the effects it had imposed on the country, although the causes of the revolution are more complex than that. When the autocratic rule of Russia crumbled in the revolutions of 1917, it was due to the underlying causes rooted deep in the empire's history. These economic, social and political problems were reinforced mainly by …

…loss of the soldiers' loyalty to the Tsar. Certainly the nature of Tsarism has put its mark on Russian history, and as most other European countries a revolution was needed to obtain a democratic rule. Seen from today's perspective, Nicholas' policies and strong autocratic beliefs are to blame for the difficulties of the Russian situation during the revolutions. However, triggering factors such as the First World War and Stolypin's reforms also caused the revolution of 1917.