The Communist Manifesto

1. Class Struggle Drives History

The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.

Constant Conflict. The Communist Manifesto posits that human history is fundamentally shaped by ongoing conflicts between different social classes. These struggles, whether overt or subtle, drive societal change and evolution. This perspective views society not as a harmonious entity, but as an arena of competing interests.

Oppressors and Oppressed. Throughout history, societies have been structured around hierarchies where one class dominates and exploits another. Examples include:

• Freeman and slave
• Patrician and plebeian
• Lord and serf
• Guild-master and journeyman

Revolution or Ruin. Class struggles inevitably lead to either a revolutionary transformation of society or the mutual destruction of the contending classes. This dynamic underscores the inherent instability of class-based societies and the potential for radical change.

2. Bourgeoisie Revolutionizes Production

The bourgeoisie cannot exist without constantly revolutionising the instruments of production, and thereby the relations of production, and with them the whole relations of society.

Dynamic Transformation. The bourgeoisie, or the capitalist class, is characterized by its relentless pursuit of innovation and efficiency in production. This drive leads to continuous technological advancements and transformations in how goods are made and distributed. This constant change is a defining feature of capitalism.

Global Expansion. The bourgeoisie's need for ever-expanding markets pushes it to seek opportunities across the globe. This leads to the establishment of international trade networks and the spread of capitalist relations to new territories. The bourgeoisie must "nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere."

Social Upheaval. The bourgeoisie's revolutionary impact extends beyond economics, disrupting traditional social structures and values. Feudal ties are replaced by self-interest and "callous cash payment," leading to a society where everything is commodified. This upheaval creates both opportunities and anxieties.

3. Capitalism Creates Its Own Gravediggers

What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers.

Internal Contradictions. Capitalism, while incredibly productive, contains inherent contradictions that will ultimately lead to its downfall. The most significant of these is the creation of the proletariat, a class of wage laborers who are exploited by the bourgeoisie.

Proletarianization. As capitalism develops, more and more people are forced into the proletariat, losing their independent means of production and becoming dependent on wage labor. This process creates a growing class of people with a shared interest in overthrowing the capitalist system.

Class Consciousness. The proletariat, initially a disorganized mass, gradually develops class consciousness as they recognize their shared exploitation and begin to organize for collective action. This growing awareness and organization pose an increasing threat to the bourgeoisie.

4. Communists Represent Proletarian Interests

The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working-class parties.

Vanguard of the Proletariat. Communists do not operate as a distinct faction but rather as the most advanced and resolute section within the broader working-class movement. They champion the collective interests of the proletariat, transcending national boundaries.

Theoretical Understanding. Communists possess a deeper understanding of the historical trajectory, conditions, and ultimate goals of the proletarian movement. This theoretical insight enables them to guide and advance the struggle against the bourgeoisie.

Shared Goals. The immediate objectives of Communists align with those of all other proletarian parties: to unite the proletariat as a class, dismantle bourgeois dominance, and empower the proletariat politically.

5. Abolition of Private Property is Key

In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.

End of Exploitation. The Manifesto argues that private property is the foundation of class-based exploitation. By abolishing private ownership of the means of production, communism aims to eliminate the ability of the few to profit from the labor of the many.

Not Personal Property. The Manifesto clarifies that communism does not seek to abolish personal property acquired through one's own labor. Rather, it targets bourgeois private property, which is used to accumulate capital and exploit wage labor.

Social Transformation. Abolishing private property is not merely an economic change but a fundamental social transformation. It aims to create a society where the means of production are collectively owned and controlled, benefiting all members of society.

6. Communism Transforms Society

In bourgeois society, therefore, the past dominates the present; in communist society, the present dominates the past.

New Social Order. Communism envisions a society fundamentally different from capitalism, where the present is not constrained by the past. Accumulated labor serves to enrich and empower the laborer, rather than the other way around.

End of Class Divisions. In a communist society, class distinctions disappear as production is concentrated in the hands of a vast association of the whole nation. This eliminates the conditions for class antagonisms and creates a truly egalitarian society.

Free Development for All. The ultimate goal of communism is to create an association in which the free development of each individual is the condition for the free development of all. This emphasizes the importance of individual fulfillment within a collective framework.

7. Proletariat Must Seize Power

The proletariat will use its political supremacy to wrest, by degrees, all capital from the bourgeoisie, to centralise all instruments of production in the hands of the state, i.e., of the proletariat organised as the ruling class.

Revolutionary Action. The Manifesto asserts that the proletariat must seize political power through revolution to overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a new social order. This requires organizing as a class and winning the battle of democracy.

Centralized Control. Once in power, the proletariat will gradually wrest capital from the bourgeoisie and centralize the instruments of production in the hands of the state. This state is envisioned as the proletariat organized as the ruling class.

Despotic Measures. The transition to communism may require "despotic inroads" on the rights of property and bourgeois production. These measures, though seemingly insufficient at first, are necessary to revolutionize the mode of production entirely.

8. Communists Support Revolution

In short, the Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things.

Global Revolution. The Manifesto calls for communists to support revolutionary movements worldwide, aiming to dismantle existing social and political structures. This support extends to various opposition parties, always emphasizing the property question.

Focus on Germany. The Manifesto highlights Germany as a crucial area for revolution, given its impending bourgeois revolution under advanced European conditions. This revolution is seen as a prelude to a subsequent proletarian revolution.

Open Declaration. Communists openly declare their aims, which can only be achieved through the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. The Manifesto ends with a rallying cry: "Working men of all countries, unite!"

9. Globalization and Capitalism's Contradictions

The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe.

Marx's Prescience. Marx accurately predicted the rise of globalization, driven by capitalism's need for expanding markets. This insight remains relevant today, as businesses continue to seek new opportunities worldwide.

Unequal Specialization. Globalization, however, has led to stark divisions between industrialized nations and raw material suppliers, creating an unequal form of specialization. This inequality fuels critiques of globalization and its impact on developing countries.

Capitalism's Upheaval. Capitalism's constant revolutionizing of production leads to both progress and disruption. While it creates new industries and opportunities, it also destroys old ones, leading to job losses and economic instability.

10. The Specter of Communism Haunts Europe

A spectre is haunting Europe—the spectre of communism.

Fear and Alliances. The Manifesto opens with the image of communism as a specter haunting Europe, uniting disparate powers in opposition. This highlights the perceived threat of communism to the established order.

Acknowledged Power. Despite being demonized, communism is acknowledged by European powers as a force to be reckoned with. This recognition underscores the growing influence and potential of the communist movement.

Manifesto as Response. The Manifesto itself is presented as a response to the "nursery tale of the spectre of communism," aiming to openly declare the views, aims, and tendencies of the communist party to the world.

Last updated: April 4, 2025