Marx was undoubtedly a keen observer of the political events of his time. The analysis he presents in this text allows him to clearly discern - behind the surface of liberal rhetoric - the deeper geopolitical visions of the major powers in the European political arena from the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) to the mid-19th century. Material for this study (which is Chapter V of his more extensive work, Herr Vogt) is provided by propaganda articles and publications of the time, references from diplomats and politicians, etc.

Although this work - as the title suggests - is of a rather occasional nature, Marx, with his astute analyses, manages to highlight the complex correlation of forces, interests, and political goals of the era. He presents European politics as determined by: a) the expansionist aspirations of both France, in German and Italian territories, and - above all - Russia, which has as its ultimate geopolitical goal the annexation of any region with a Slavic-speaking population (Pan-Slavism); b) the inherent weaknesses of the Habsburg Empire and the Sublime Porte, which are now maintained only as a bulwark against Russia's expansionist drive; c) the efforts to unify the German and Italian states, mainly originating from Prussia and Piedmont, respectively.

This - previously unpublished in Greek - text by Marx is characterized by his sharp critical spirit, which highlights the complex correlations of forces and political goals during the period it deals with. It is also characterized by his denunciatory tone towards the cynicism of the politics of the major powers of the time, which do not hesitate to transform even liberal ideas - such as the principle of nationalities - into mere tools for achieving their geopolitical goals.