Understanding the Communist Manifesto: Key Principles
The Communist Manifesto: Core Principles
The Communist Manifesto explicitly describes the principles of Marxist theory, dialectical materialism, and the program of the Communist League. It proposes a proletarian revolution to overthrow capitalism and establish a classless society. It is structured in four chapters:
Bourgeois and Proletarians
This section develops the idea that world history is based on the struggle between oppressors and the oppressed. The bourgeoisie are forced to constantly revolutionize the means of production for their survival. The proletariat will build on these changes to overthrow the capitalist order.
Proletarians and Communists
This section identifies the communist project of the League with the interests of the international proletariat, defining communism as the ultimate working-class ideology. It outlines the communist program and addresses criticisms against it.
Socialist and Communist Literature
This section examines various socialist trends of the time, including:
- Reactionary Socialism: Supported by small traders and farmers who fear communism and seek to overthrow big capital.
- German or “True” Socialism: A bourgeois attempt to resist the proletariat.
- Utopian Socialism: Ignores current class struggles and seeks an ideal socialist society.
The Communist Position on Other Opposition Parties
This section outlines the Communist Party’s stance in different countries, concluding that communism opposes established power and supports revolutionaries.
Summary of the Manifesto
The Manifesto begins with an analysis of history based on historical materialism. History is viewed as an ongoing class struggle between oppressor and oppressed. The feudal nobility disappeared after the French Revolution, replaced by the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
The bourgeoisie’s pursuit of political and economic power leads to its own downfall. The worker becomes an appendage to the machine, alienated from their labor. They offer their work for exchange, but capitalism only pays for their basic needs, creating surplus value. This alienation drives the proletariat to unite and fight, assuming a revolutionary role.
According to historical materialism, the proletariat is destined to become the liberator of humanity. This liberation involves:
- Overthrowing the bourgeoisie’s political power and private property.
- Eliminating the fictitious system of production.
- Abolishing bourgeois freedoms.
- Annulling family education, which is seen as imposed by the community.
- Abolishing the state as a superstructure.
- Eliminating religion as the dominant moral ideology.
- Annulling the bourgeoisie as a class.
In Marxist thought, the proletarian revolution is a historical necessity, an inevitable process that requires the proletariat to experience its full potential.