Summary

This political pamphlet lays the foundation for Marxist theory. It critiques the capitalist system and advocates for a proletarian revolution to establish a classless society. It's a seminal work in political theory and has had a significant impact on world history.

Notes

The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, is a seminal work that outlines the principles and goals of communism. Here is a brief summary of the key points:
1. Historical Materialism: Marx and Engels begin by presenting their materialistic conception of history, arguing that the history of society is the history of class struggles. They contend that the dominant economic structure of a society determines its political institutions and ideologies.
2. Bourgeoisie and Proletariat: The manifesto identifies two primary classes in capitalist societies: the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class). It describes how the bourgeoisie, through industrialization and capitalism, has brought about a radical transformation in society.
3. Exploitation of the Proletariat: Marx and Engels argue that the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat by extracting surplus value from their labor. The profits of the capitalist class are derived from the surplus value created by the working class.
4. Historical Role of the Proletariat: The manifesto predicts that the proletariat, due to its revolutionary potential, will eventually rise against the bourgeoisie. It argues that the proletariat will abolish the capitalist system, private property, and class distinctions.
5. Communist Goals: Marx and Engels outline ten short-term goals to be implemented in advanced capitalist countries to pave the way for communism. These include progressive income taxes, free education, and the centralization of credit in the hands of the state.
6. Critique of Other Socialist Movements: The manifesto critiques other socialist and communist movements of its time, differentiating itself from those it labels as "utopian" or "petty-bourgeois." It advocates for a scientific and historical understanding of society.
7. Call to Action: The manifesto concludes with a famous call for the workers of the world to unite, declaring that "the proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains" and that they have a world to win.
The Communist Manifesto serves as a foundational text for understanding Marxist thought and has had a profound impact on political and social movements around the world.

Thoughts:

So far I am having a hard time reading it, while I think ideologically I can agree with a most of what Marx and Engels say (living in a materialist society, exploitation of the working class etc), I am not the biggest fan of positioning the whole world in an ultimate interminable battle between social classes. While I do think the struggle exists, and ideologically I am guilty of falling for the same belief, I would like more nuance in the phrasing of this context. At the same time, rather than a scientific writing the Manifesto is a political text with the goal of disseminating a certain ideology through persuasion to diversely (un)educated masses, so I guess some would say the means justify the methods.

A fine distinction occurs between private and personal property, which I have found to be greatly misunderstood and misrepresented by those historically opposing communism. Personal property is considered to include those goods earned through one's labour that are used in daily life for one's pleasure or wellbeing, and are permitted. Private property, on the other hand, is understood as the methods of production that have been acquired (and have grown) by an under-rewarded working class. Private property, is seen as socialized business. This is a concept I like, that I believe is based on strong definitions that are hard to disagree with, such as that "The profits of the capitalist class are derived from the surplus value created by the working class".