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NOTE: These are classic works of literature and foundational parts of Marxism, one of the most important political and economic theories ever. I don’t think a traditional review where I critique the authors’ writing is going to be of much value to anyone. They are a product of their place and time, and a part of our history. Since they’re in the public domain, I’ll attempt to summarize their key ideas and importance, and will also attach my notes so you can read them yourself to either enjoy or criticize my doodles.
The Communist Manifesto:
This work, might be the most famous one by German philosopher Karl Marx and his partner Friedrich Engels. It was printed as a pamphlet in London in 1848 as a series of revolutions were brewing across Europe. In its preface, written decades after, Engels sums up Marxism’s central view that
“all history has been a history of class struggles, of struggles between exploited and exploiting, between dominated and dominating classes.”
Marx and Engels believe the revolutions in 1848 against the forces of monarchy and aristocracy were essential. But the struggle benefited the wealthy middle classes and business owners more than the workers. The revolutions served the class who owned capital in an industrializing Europe. Marx called this class “the bourgeoisie ”. Marx’s loyalties were with another class, the workers of Europe who labored in its factories, mills and other workplaces. They were called the “ proletariat ”. Their labor generated profits for the capitalists.
The central point of the manifesto is to lay out the following beliefs:
- History has always been a story of a dominant class exploiting a subservient class to profit off their labor.
- The transition from feudalism to capitalism made capitalists into the dominant class in society. They’re the ones who the economic apparatus and the state serve.
- While capitalism has created great wealth and built up the forces of production or capital, it’s also been a destructive force for workers, peasants, the planet and its resources.
- While the lower classes once had control over the means of production in earlier societies, they longer do in capitalism. The cost of producing in an industrial age is so great that only the wealthy can afford to own them.
- The wealthy decreed, intimidated, stole and murdered their way into holding all the early forms of capital. They’ve been riding that wave ever since.
- Workers now have no way to produce their own goods and nothing to sell but their labor power. Instead they work for capitalists. For them, they generate more value than their labor costs. The capitalist exploits this labor by taking the surplus value as profit.
- The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Competition and the pursuit of profit lead to capital expanding. Meanwhile, capitalists cut worker wages and standards of living. This continues until they overproduce goods and cause destructive crises. The poor suffer more. Meanwhile, the richest and luckiest capitalists profit off the wreckage. They end up more powerful than before.
- The only way out of this destructive cycle is to end capitalism by abolishing private productive property. Workers should own this capital and use it for the benefit of all people instead of the pursuit of profit. This is why Marx and Engels urge for revolution.
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From Prole Academy Notes on the Communist Manifesto
The Principles of Communism:
Friedrich Engels wrote this work in 1847, but it wasn’t actually published until 1914. The Principles of Communism is structured as a Q & A. It’s written with clear and non-academic language, and explains what communism is and how it sets out to liberate the proletariat. Given the fact that Marx can be, shall we say, “dense” in the way he writes, despite his brilliance, I think Engels’ explanation is very helpful.
We trace the history of the working class from ancient times through the Middle Ages and Industrial Revolution. Engels explains how the way different classes relate to one another has changed in each era. Then the author summarizes the basics of the labor theory of value, how workers are exploited by capitalists, and how capitalism creates both immense wealth and crises of overproduction.
Engels also sketches out the solution he sees: communism. In this system, private control of productive property is abolished. Society is reorganized so production can be directed by all for common benefit according to central planning. The good news is that capitalism led to intense industrial development. Endless factories, mills, warehouses, machines and other technological apparatuses came out of it. Large scale production is now possible where it wasn’t in previous eras. This makes a new era possible where we surpass capitalism and actualize ourselves. Engels (and by extension, Marx) argue that in this future system, labor will no longer be exploited. There will be no more scarcity of material goods. This is where we will achieve true freedom and our history will begin in earnest.
Engels lays out some initial measures a successful socialist democracy might institute. These would begin the transitional road to communism. Top of the list is limiting and then gradually eliminating private property. Progressive taxation, collectivizing agriculture, centralizing credit, and free education are among these ideas. They match what we read in The Communist Manifesto. Engels also states that revolution would ideally happen simultaneously in multiple industrialized countries. He and Marx assumed it would be some combination of the UK, US, France and Germany. All were far more developed than a semi-feudal nation of peasants and nobles like Russia.
Engels notes that communists may sometimes make common cause with democratic socialists and bourgeois reformers. Despite this, they should not be under any illusion that such an alliance is permanent. Bourgeois capitalist rule is better than rule by kings. Yet once their revolutions triumph, the workers’ revolution must begin to supplant them.
Read These If:
If you’re interested in understanding the basic inspiration behind the communist movement or the major ideas of Marxism in general, this is You’re interested in understanding the basic inspiration behind the communist movement or the major ideas of Marxism. It has influenced countless movements, nations and individuals. Its relevance is only increasing again as capitalism faces ever greater crises. If you want to learn more about the basics of Marxism without reading a bunch of 19th century texts, please check out my briefing series on Marxism 101.
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