Preparatory Materials for The Role of Force in History

Author(s) Friedrich Engels
Written 1887


Written between the end of 1887 and March 1888
First published, in Russian, in Marx-Engels Archives, Vol. X, Moscow, 1948
Printed according to the manuscript
Published in English for the first time
Preparatory Materials for The Role of Force in History
Published in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 26
Collection(s): Die Neue Zeit

1. 1848. Postulate of national states. Italy, Germany, Poland, Hungary.

2. Bonaparte's enlightened policy of conquest: nationhood in exchange for compensation. Italy.

3. Against this, [Prussian] army reorganisation. Conflict. Bismarck. Policy not original.

4. Position in Germany. Unity: 1. through revolution, 2. through Austria, 3. through Prussia (Customs' Union).

5. War [of] 1864 and 1866. Revolutionary means.

6. Bismarck's best years—until 1870.

7. French War.[1] Empire. Annexation of Alsace-Lorraine. Russia the arbitrator.

8. Bismarck at the end—turns reactionary, feeble-minded. Kulturkampf[2] (civil marriage). Protective tariffs and agrarian alliance with bourgeois.—Colonial swindles. Slandering of Bismarck.— Anti-Socialist Law.[3] —Suppression of coalition.—Social reform.— Militarism because of annexation of Alsace.—The Junker [in Bismarck] comes to the fore for the lack of other ideas.

  1. ↑ This point also includes the notes written on the same sheet and crossed out by Engels presumably after he had used them in his work, "1 . Methods of warfare. Contribution, franc-tireurs, [Thefts of] clock, thrashing. Severity of Junkers' revenge from above. 2. Overthrow of the Empire. 3. Hats off to Paris! 4. Milliards and Alsace-Lorraine."— Ed.
  2. ↑ See Note 351.
  3. ↑ The reference is to court proceedings instituted by Bismarck in 1876-77 against a number of conservative journalists and politicians, who exposed his involvement in the stock-exchange machinations, on the charge of insulting him in the press. The incident revealed the mounting tension between Bismarck's government and the conservatives, who criticised his policies from a Right-wing standpoint. On the Anti-Socialist Law, see Note 174.