ABSTRACT
There were three main characteristics of political life in pre-1914 Europe, all multifaceted and with far-reaching and long-lasting effects. The most important of these characteristics, containing within it all the others, was the emergence of mass politics: large-scale political organization, mobilization and participation, activities reaching hundreds of thousands and even millions of people. A crucial innovation, coming to fruition in the 1890-1914 period, was the mass political party, one with a large membership, in five, six or seven figures. This membership was not just impressive in size but also dues-paying, so that even modest dues would generate a substantial income, enabling a mass party to support a permanent paid staff at the national, regional and local levels. This chapter explains the major political issues of the period: budget and taxation; economic and social questions; the armed forces and the threat of war; the nation and nationalism; religious controversies; and the demand for democracy.
