Political Economy Analysis of Marx's Communist Manifesto
Political Economy Analysis of Marx's Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto to a great extent aims to explain the goals of Communism and the theory that underpins the movement. The work argues that class struggles, or the exploitation of one class by another, are the motivating force behind all historical developments. The work concludes with the assumption the freedom of the proletariats will only be achieved when property and other goods cease to be privately owned.
The Communist Manifesto opens with a statement of its purpose, to publicise the views, aims and tendencies of the Communists. It is meant to be a broad description of what Communism is, both as a theory and as a political movement. The Manifesto has four sections. In the first section, it discusses the Communists' theory of history and the relationship between proletarians and bourgeoisie. The second section explains the relationship between the Communists and the proletarians. The third section addresses the flaws in other, previous socialist literature. The final section discusses the relationship between the Communists and other parties.
In section One, "Bourgeois and Proletarians," Marx highlights his vision of history, focusing on the development and eventual destruction of the bourgeoisie, the dominant class of his day. Modern industrial society is characterised by the class conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Marx writes, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Throughout history we see the oppressor and oppressed in constant opposition to each other. This fight is sometimes hidden and sometimes open. However, each time the fight ends in either a revolutionary reconstruction of society or in the classes' common ruin.
In this instance he highlights that the nature of the productive forces of capitalism are not compatible and therefore as exploitation occurs a proletariat revolution will result which will aim to eradicate the social classes. He emphasises that this revolution is inevitable as capitalism is inherently unstable.
The most important concept being discussed is the concept that each society has a characteristic economic structure. This structure breeds different classes, which are in conflict as they oppress or are oppressed by each other. However, this situation is not permanent. As history continues, eventually the means of production cease to be compatible with the class structure. Instead, the structure begins to impede the development of productive forces. At this point, the existing...