In February 1848, the communist party published a manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in London that set forth their philosophy. The Manifesto remains one of the most important political works of the 19th century and is considered by many to be the foundation of the modern Communist movement.
The Manifesto outlines the goals and objectives of the Communist party, and describes how these can be achieved through a revolutionary change in society. This theory was developed by Marx and Engels based on their belief that history is a series of class struggles that eventually result in revolution and the formation of a new society.
They argue that all social structures are shaped by economic forces and that the struggle between these forces is the driving force behind all historical developments. They also believe that class struggles are not a moral issue, but rather a material force that determines all of history.
Part 2: Theoretical Conclusions and General Relations
Marx and Engels explain that the theoretical conclusions of the Communist party are not based on ideas or principles that have been invented by some would-be universal reformer, but merely reflect actual relations that are being formed under our eyes as we live. The Manifesto starts by explaining that "classes have always clashed" and that "there is nothing more fundamental than the exploitation of labour by capital". It continues to state that, “In all classes there are certain basic interests which can never be subordinated to other interests. During the course of an age, these conflicts between different groups of workers lead to a conflicting political and social arrangement, which eventually leads to revolution".
Chapter 1: The Origins of Socialism
In this section, Marx and Engels outline the origins of capitalism and how it came into existence. They posit that, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Europe has been dominated by the bourgeoisie. This has led to a shift in the way we think about and produce goods, resulting in the rise of a world market. The Manifesto points out that, due to this development, the relationship between nations has changed.
The authors also point out that, since capitalism has been introduced into countries around the world, these nations have become dependent on each other. They explain that, "The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world-market given a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country".
Chapter 3: The Proletariat as a Nation
In order to achieve their objectives, the Communists argue that the working class must first gain political supremacy and then become a nation. This will not happen overnight, but as the exploitation of individual people by other people is put an end to, national differences and antagonisms will disappear.
The Manifesto was initially a small booklet of twenty-three pages, but it quickly became popular and was eventually translated into more than nine languages. It has remained in print for more than 150 years and is arguably the most influential work of Karl Marx. It has entered the syllabuses of political-science courses in universities worldwide and remains a staple of political theory today.
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