“A spectator is haunting Europe”, the opening line of The Communist Manifesto (or The Manifesto).
We can try and argue over Marxist ideology. I really would rather not. What is painfully obvious, however, is that he and Engels predicted how the capitalist means of production would spread. The prediction of technological advancement should also be pointed out here. While those things are “not bad”. Other predictions, that were less positive, came about. For example, the reduction of things like ‘moral principles’ to commodities, making them up for exchange for financial gain in a capitalist society, is just one such example.
The spreading of capitalism came with colonization and the forcing of people to engage in the system. See slavery and the recreation of the entire world, which can be seen in the dividing of Africa by European powers.
Marx and Engels…
While Karl Marx is well known for his writing, it is important to note that Friedrich Engels was an equal part of the creation of the theory outline in The Manifesto. In fact, the Communist Manifesto was based on Engels’ earlier writing, “Principles of Communism.”
The communist manifesto is less a founding principle and more of a dramatic call to action.
Though it was intended to express the founding principles of the Communist League (a small network of German workers and intellectuals), Which was service from The League of the Just.
Its baseline theory is “the emancipation of people through the theory of ‘collective property.'”
As a preliminary matter, the communist manifestation explains the rise of capitalism and the inherent contradiction of a capitalistic society that will ultimately lead to the destruction of capitalism.
The destruction of a capitalistic society would lead to a new system of ownership based on democratic control.
It would be intellectually dishonest for anyone to argue that the Communist manifesto is in any way a complete summary of Marx and Engels’ ideas.
The manifesto is only four (4) very short chapters with the last being a call to arms after chapter three (3) criticizes the system.
The Manifesto tells a story of the growing tension between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat along the with and due to the development of modern industrial production.
The manifestation seems an overly simplified and therefore inherently incomplete recitation of their joint work which can be found in their book (full length and jointly authored), “The German Ideology.”
The main principle is that the political and intellectual aspects of society are predicated on that society’s economic production. Therefore, it is logical that the tension and inconsistencies in this economic means of production would case, or did cause, the two classes— Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat, to clash. This struggle between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat, they termed as “Class struggle”.
Class struggle is central to Marx and Engels’ political philosophy, Historical Materialism. Please read more on this for your own curiosity, it is pretty fascinating.
Division of Labor
The division of labor is to explain what we do to meet our basic needs. Today, selling our time and effort for a salary to pay for food, clothing, and shelter. This division of labor can be traced back to the hunter-gatherer society and ultimately explains how each era was organized to maintain the status quo and made sure everyone knew their place. The reproduction of a particular group is also a requirement since some people have to work, there needs to be a working class. Again you can read up on this tracking of history through the division of labor when you decide to study a bit more on Historical Materialism.
At its core, Marxist theory is about the organization of society where one group, with power, is exploiting another.
The awareness of abuse and exploitation, Marx explained, would unify the working class as they look to a collective enemy.
Click here for the video address Lauren Chen’s attack on Social Justice.
For more readings on Historical context See:
Historical Materialism
The Revolution of 1830 in France, to understand the context for the Manifesto and the resurgence of Western Liberalism.
British industrial revolution and its impact globally on economic shifts.
