The State (Classic Reprint): Elements of Historical and Practical

In this review of The State (Classic Reprint) readers will find a focused classroom-ready edition of Woodrow Wilson's Elements of Historical and Practical Politics, tailored for students studying wartime governments. The bottom line: this edition is for instructors and history students who need a concise comparative survey of major powers as understood around 1914 and immediately after, because it reorganizes chapters to concentrate on the principal belligerent nations and adds new material on modern wartime states.

Key Features

• Adapted for student use: The text has been prepared specifically for the Students' Army Training Corps, making it practical for classroom study and guided coursework.
• Revised country coverage: Chapters on England, France, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria have been revised to reflect the author's intent and contemporary conditions.
• Added wartime chapters: New chapters covering Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Rumania, Bulgaria, modern Greece, Russia, Turkey, and Japan broaden the book's comparative scope for wartime study.
• Concise scope: Material on ancient Greece, Rome, Norway, and Sweden was omitted to keep the focus on countries relevant to the course and the war period.
• Historical context: Germany and Austria are described both as they were in 1914 and with a brief note on their condition as written, providing a snapshot of unsettled political situations.

Who It's For

This edition is best for instructors, history students, and readers studying comparative government during World War I who need a text organized around the principal belligerent powers. Its selection of chapters and added material on countries such as Italy, Belgium, and Japan make it useful for courses that emphasize modern wartime political structures.

Readers seeking a comprehensive general history that includes ancient governments or full surveys of smaller neutral countries should look elsewhere; this reprint intentionally omits earlier chapters on ancient Greece, Rome, Norway, and Sweden to maintain a focused syllabus orientation.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers a classroom-focused edition that streamlines content for training corps and academic courses.
• Expanded chapters on key wartime nations add comparative value for students of modern politics.
• Revision of major-country chapters provides contemporary context useful to instructors planning lessons.

Cons

• The omission of ancient and some neutral-country chapters limits its usefulness for readers seeking a full historical survey.

Specifications

Title	The State (Classic Reprint): Elements of Historical and Practical Politics
Author / Brand	Woodrow Wilson
Edition purpose	Prepared for the Students' Army Training Corps
Focused coverage	Principal belligerent powers and postwar chapter
Omitted material	Ancient Greece, Rome, Norway, Sweden
Added chapters	Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Rumania, Bulgaria, modern Greece, Russia, Turkey, Japan, After the War
Germany & Austria	Described as in 1914 with a brief note on later condition

Our Verdict

This edition of The State is a sensible, course-oriented reprint for instructors and students studying the governments of major wartime powers; it delivers revised chapters and additional country studies relevant to World War I-era comparative politics, though it is not intended as a complete historical compendium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include material on World War I nations?
Yes. New and revised chapters focus on the principal belligerent powers and include material meant for wartime comparative study.

Are ancient governments covered in this reprint?
No. Chapters on ancient Greece and Rome were omitted to keep the edition concentrated on modern wartime governments.

How are Germany and Austria treated?
They are described as they existed in 1914, with a brief statement about their condition as written in this edition.