The volume includes texts by prominent thinkers, scientists and politicians of the liberal direction of domestic public thought, which give a deep comprehensive analysis of the nature of the First World War; the role of international law and international structures in the fight to prevent armed conflicts is revealed; goals and objectives of Russia in the war; shows the complex relationship between power and society; the impact of war on economics and finance, on science, education and culture. A red thread through the published texts is the idea of ​ ​ Russia's revival in the post-war period, the democratization of its political system, the transformation of its economy, social and cultural sphere, the creation of conditions and prerequisites for revealing the creative potential of a person.