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The Communist Manifesto
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The Communist Manifesto (1848) (edit title/settings)

by Karl Marx (Author), Friedrich Engels (Editor) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Originally published on the eve of the 1848 European revolutions, The Communist Manifesto is a condensed and incisive account of the worldview Marx and Engels developed during their hectic intellectual and political collaboration. Formulating the principles of dialectical materialism, they... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

  • - Marx and Engels introduce the political programme of communism to the European mainstream.
  • - An overview of social relations based on economic groups.
  • - "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."
  • - The upper class has oppressed the lower class for ages. Communism is inevitable. Working men of the world unite!

Summary edit see section history

The Communist Manifesto reflects an attempt to explain the goals of Communism, as well as the theory underlying this movement. It argues that class struggles, or the exploitation of one class by another, are the motivating force behind all historical developments. Class relationships are... read more

The Communist Manifesto reflects an attempt to explain the goals of Communism, as well as the theory underlying this movement. It argues that class struggles, or the exploitation of one class by another, are the motivating force behind all historical developments. Class relationships are defined by an era's means of production. However, eventually these relationships cease to be compatible with the developing forces of production. At this point, a revolution occurs and a new class emerges as the ruling one. This process represents the "march of history" as driven by larger economic forces.
Modern Industrial society in specific is characterized by class conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat. However, the productive forces of capitalism are quickly ceasing to be compatible with this exploitative relationship. Thus, the proletariat will lead a revolution. However, this revolution will be of a different character than all previous ones: previous revolutions simply reallocated property in favor of the new ruling class. However, by the nature of their class, the members of the proletariat have no way of appropriating property. Therefore, when they obtain control they will have to destroy all ownership of private property, and classes themselves will disappear.
The Manifesto argues that this development is inevitable, and that capitalism is inherently unstable. The Communists intend to promote this revolution, and will promote the parties and associations that are moving history towards its natural conclusion. They argue that the elimination of social classes cannot come about through reforms or changes in government. Rather, a revolution will be required.
The Communist Manifesto has four sections. In the first section, it discusses the Communists' theory of history and the relationship between proletarians and bourgeoisie. The second section explains the relationship between the Communists and the proletarians. The third section addresses the flaws in other, previous socialist literature. The final section discusses the relationship between the Communists and other parties.

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First Sentence edit see section history

The text follows the English translation by Samuel Moore of 1888, which was edited, annotated, and authorized by Engels and has over the past century taken on the status of a standard edition.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Bourgeoisie: Composing the class of modern Capitalists, the bourgeoisie are the employers of wage laborers, and the owners of the means of production.
  • Means of production: The means of production include not only the physical instruments of production (tools, machines, etc.), but also the methods of working (skills, forms of cooperation, division of labor, etc.), and knowledge that can be applied to production (science, etc.).
  • Mode of production: The economic structure of society that defines people's mode of living. It consists of the means of production as well as the relations of production.
  • Proletariat: The class of modern wage-laborers. They do not have their own means of production, and therefore they must sell their own labor in order to survive.
  • Relations of production: The necessary relations between people as required for a certain form of material production. The relations of production refer to the distribution of the means of production, the forms of possession (collective and individual private property), and the distribution of the product.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Oxford PPE UA Amp P Political Economy. (community list)
This book is in Penguin's Top 100 Classics. (authoritative list)
This book is in Penguin Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This is book 71 of 96 in Wikipedia's 100 most influential books ever written. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Either/Or, and followed by Civil Disobedience.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Karl Marx (Author)
  2. Friedrich Engels (Editor)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: German
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1848
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 192

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Be sure to explain how communism is a political view point that has historical impacts such as hatred and death of both the wealthy and poor.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Rise and Fall of Communism
  • In Denial: Historians, Communism & Espionage

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • The Meaning of Marxism
  • Socialism

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • Bionomics: Economy As Ecosystem
  • My Life with Che: The Making of a Revolutionary

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