"In " The World at War " Georg Brandes has collected some of his essays on the war and the events leading up to it, written before and during the great conflict. 1881: I do not believe that Socialism, as a party, will come to power in Germany within a reasonable number of years. Its influence will be limited to carrying out the obvious reforms of Bismarck's state-socialistic ideas. Yet this influence, such as it is, is considerable and creates a highly illogic situation, since doctrines pursued in the cellars as " dangerous to the state " are hailed from the housetops as the state's only salvation. Who would have thought this possible, even two years ago ?" ...] This wonderfull historic book explains the political, social and economic situation across Europe at the end of the 19th century up to the beginning of World War I. The initial publication was 1917 - during the war was going on.