The general plan of the present volume differs from that of the first edition. A number of chapters dealing with the governments of minor states have been omitted. Chapters devoted to Austria-Hungary have likewise been dropped, and no attempt has been made to cover the governments of the several lesser states which have risen from the wreckage of the former Habsburg dominion. On the other hand, the space allotted to Great Britain is almost doubled, that given to France is practically tripled, and a closing chapter undertakes to set forth the salient features of soviet government in Russia. Italy continues to be treated somewhat briefly, because of the general similarity of the Italian and French political systems. Switzerland is dealt with substantially as before. In the case of Germany I have decided to retain chapters describing the governments and parties both of the Empire and of Prussia up to 1918, partly because every student of comparative government ought to be familiar with the former German system, and partly because more of the old system than is commonly supposed survives in the new. I have, however, added two chapters which are designed to outline German political development during the Great War and to describe the republican institutions set up in 1918. In this portion of the book I have drawn freely upon chapters which appeared in a volume prepared in collaboration with Dr. Charles A. Beard and published in 1918 under the title "National Governments and the World War." MADISON, WISCONSIN, August 10, 1920. FREDERIC AUSTIN OGG CONTENTS XXXIV. THE HOHENZOLLERN EMPIRE AND ITS CONSTITUTION XXXV. THE IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVERNMENT XXXVI. THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE GREAT WAR. XXXVII. POLITICAL FORCES AND PARTY ALIGNMENTS TO 1914 520 540 • 737 755 |