Understanding Karl Marx’S Critique Of Capitalism: Exploring The Communist Manifesto
If you’re looking for a thorough explanation of the arguments for communism, make sure to pick up a copy of The Communist Manifesto.
Through reading these sections, you’ll gain a better sense of the basis of communist political thought.
You’ll finally understand why private property should not be held by anyone, how the conditions we live in are no different than they were in feudalism, and what we can do to fight against oppressive bourgeois forces.
The Communist Manifesto shines light on issues of modern exploitation in our capitalist system; issues such as poverty, child soldiers being forced into inhumane battles over civil wars, and mothers forced to sew cheap clothes for wages significantly below what is deserved.
By understanding these harrowing images through the lens of communism and examining how people have suffered through centuries under an unfair system of production, we can start envisioning a more equitable way fo life.
The Class Struggle: How Changes In The Economy Lead To Changes In Society
It’s clear that the class who holds power over a society‘s economy also holds power over that society as a whole.
This has been true throughout all of human history, from ancient Rome to Medieval Europe.
The relationship between the oppressor and oppressed classes can be traced back to who has control of the mode of production – those who have control over food, clothing, shelter and resources have always been in elevated positions of power.
In hunter-gatherer societies for example, there weren’t any significant differences between members due to lack of economic power.
However, with the development of farming came an abundance of resources which people were able to trade thus creating a hierarchy between those who owned it and those who worked it.
This same relationship is seen in Roman times where slaves were not allowed to hold property nor was it seen in medieval Europe where labor led to financial servitude towards wealthy landowners – creating an environment in which working class people never had a chance at gaining control or power over their lives or circumstance.
The struggle between these different classes is what has created history and this will always be true as long as there are those with more economic influence over others.
The class that controls the wealth will always end up controlling society — this is an immutable truth.
The Ascendance Of The Bourgeoisie: How Capitalism Transformed Feudalism And Remains Dominant In Our Time
The bourgeoisie have become the dominant force in today’s economy.
With the downfall of the feudal system, and the industrialization that followed it, new modes of production were made available, allowing people to now be able to sell their labor in factories instead of servitude on land owned by nobles and kings.
This gave rise to a powerful class: the bourgeoisie, or owners of industrial capital.
The bourgeoisie’s dominance over society is firmly rooted in their control over economies around the world.
As those involved in industry create products like chairs and other goods, the profits from these go into the hands of the bourgeoisie rather than back into the pocket of those who create them—workers who are essentially producing capital for someone else’s benefit.
The bourgeoisie also exhibit a hunger for more markets and more capital, with capitalism becoming a global phenomenon that exerts its control over world economies.
In this way, it is clear that not only has power shifted away from kings and church but now lies firmly in the hands of those belonging to business capitalism—a fact which could not be truer today as the bourgeoisie grow even stronger and more powerful, dominating our economy and therefore our society.
Capitalism Gave Rise To A Revolutionary Proletariat Ready To Overturn Its Oppressors
Although the working-class proletariat is oppressed and exploited by the upper class bourgeoisie, it is becoming increasingly unified in its struggle to create a better society.
The harsh and oppressive reality of life under capitalism have made workers realize that they can only challenge such an unjust system if they band together, rather than competing against each other.
In the past, there was more of an individualized nature to production; people would produce an entire product themselves.
The advent of industrialization has changed this significantly, with workers suffering through the monotony of cranking a single factory lever all day long for a miniscule wage.
This new work situation has resulted in greater numbers of workers across the globe, in addition to increased means of communication due to living and working in densely populated cities.
As a result of their shared suffering, a proletarian consciousness has formed within the collective working class.
These individual workers — regardless age, sex, desires or aspirations — are unified by their experience and exploitation under capitalism.
They understand that no one person can fight this system alone; only when united can they stand up against those who wish to keep them suppressed.
And so, leveraging their collective strength and solidarity, the working class can begin to build a more just society where everyone’s needs are met and met equitably without compromise.
The Communist Vision: Transforming Workers’ Rage Into A Global Movement For Fundamental Change Through Abolishing Private Property
The goal of the Communist Manifesto is clear: to unite the global proletariat and abolish private property in order to claim political power.
Communists and proletarians alike understand that wage labor only works to the benefit of the bourgeoisie, creating capital which serves as a basis for their domination over the working class.
What this means is that private ownership has no place in a world run by proletarians – instead, they believe that any capital created should be shared among all members of society.
In order to bring about this vision, international communists are coming together from various countries and organizations to represent the interests of the global proletariat as a collective force.
Once united, their aim is clear – they want to overthrow the rule of the bourgeoisie and establish political power for themselves so that wealth can be redistributed evenly throughout society.
It’s an ambitious goal but its roots lie firmly in their unified desire for an end to individual property and exploitation of workers.
Only then will they truly be free.
Ten Conditions For Establishing A Fair And Just Communist Society
The International Communists made ten demands in order to bring about a fair and just society based on their communist beliefs.
These demands included a number of policies that would help ensure wealth was distributed evenly.
Firstly, exclusive rights to land should be abolished meaning property would be expropriated for public use.
Secondly, a heavy progressive tax should be introduced in order to prevent wealth from accumulating at the top.
Thirdly, inheritance laws should be removed so as not to propagate class differences.
Fourthly, the property of anyone attempting to undermine the rule of the proletariat or anyone living abroad without making use of property in their native country should confiscated.
Fifthly, a national bank with state capital should have an exclusive monopoly on credit.
Sixthly, freedom of movement is considered a right, which encompasses responsibility of society providing means by which people can move around freely which requires centralization of transport into the hands of the state.
Seventhly, the instruments of production owned by the state should be used to cultivate wasteland and improve soil fertility
Eighthly every citizen is required to work and industrial armies especially for agriculture are established; ninth there needs to be an equitable distribution between urban areas and rural communities; And finally free education will be provided in public schools while children’s factories will cease being ran as they currently do.
The Hypocritical Criticisms Of Communism And Why They Are Invalid
All of the common criticisms of communism can easily be refuted.
For instance, we are often told that communism works against the family, but this simply isn’t true.
Communism does propose that children be educated publicly, but capitalism has already caused immense damage to families and their values by forcing mothers to work 60 hours a week and having children go straight into factories when they are old enough.
By eradicating private schools and allowing education to be free from the influence of the ruling class, communism could potentially repair these familial ties.
Additionally, it’s been said that communists would “steal” away workers’ nationalities.
However this is not true as workers have no nationality due to how capitalism treats them like commodities instead of people who deserve basic rights and respect.
Communists strive for equality on an international level which will help to blur out differences between borders and better unite workers regardless of their nationality; something that capitalism has been unable or unwilling to do in its own existence.
Likewise, there are those who believe that communism would undermine religion – however this too is unfounded because religion’s main purpose is to maintain the class structure created through capitalism.
That being said, religion needs to be kicked out with all other remnants of the old system in order for equality for all classes to become possible under a communist society.
Thus it can clearly be seen that all criticisms of communism are arguably inaccurate given all the facts surrounding it – proving why The Communist Manifesto remains such a powerful document today.
Wrap Up
The Communist Manifesto, a book by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, is a powerful call to action for the working class of the world.
It defines the course of history as a struggle between classes and presents a stark picture of an oppressive bourgeois ruling class that holds its power over the proletariat through exploitative modes of production.
InMarx and Engels’ final summary of the manifesto, they declare that only through international solidarity can workers break their chains and challenge the capitalist bourgeoisie.
They urge people to unite against their oppressors with revolutionary action, so that mankind may advance towards liberation from capitalist tyranny.
Without such collective efforts, it is likely that those in power will continue to rule unchecked and exploit those at the bottom of society.
