Originally published in 1981, this book covers the development of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) from its inception to the end of the Weimar republic. Within a historical framework it analyses the role and operation of the SPD in the changing social and political climate of Germany and describes the party's internal struggles throughout the period. The party continually debated its aims and the means to achieve them. Conducted by people such as Kautsky, Bernsteina dn Rosa Luxemburg, with close links to Marx, Engels and other leaders of the international socialist movement, this debate within the party was one of the most fundamental socialist controversies, whose relevance remains today.

A study of the popular culture institutions created by the German Labor Movement after 1890, focusing on the role of visual art in the working class environment, both as an influence in the home and in the political agitation and propaganda of the political parties. Political art of this period reflected both a utopian belief in the success of the struggle and the harsh images of a revolutionary ideology, and represented a range of political beliefs, from Social Democracy to the Communist movement. Includes many high-quality bandw illustrations. Distributed by St. Martin's Press. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR