Assignment : Book review

:Communist Manifesto:
Introduction:
The book “Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich in February 1848 The exact
location of its publication was London, United Kingdom 1848, which is one of influential work in
the field of political philosophy and sociology which have played a great role in socialist and
communist movement. Karl Marx, born on May 5, 1818, in Trier, Germany, was a philosopher,
economist, and political theorist who had a profound influence on the development of socialist
and communist ideologies. Marx's intellectual journey began during his university years when
he became involved in radical political and intellectual circles.
Marx studied law and philosophy at the University of Bonn and later at the University of Berlin.
During this time, he was exposed to the philosophical ideas of G.W.F. Hegel, whose dialectical
approach greatly influenced Marx's own thinking. Marx became interested in the ideas of
Hegelianism and the critique of existing social and political structures.
Marx's writing career gained momentum when he met Friedrich Engels, a fellow radical thinker
and collaborator. Engels, who shared Marx's passion for social and economic justice, became a
close friend and lifelong collaborator. Together, they co-authored several important works,
including "The Communist Manifesto" and "Das Kapital."
The Communist Manifesto is the powerful text that has had a great impact on society,
economics, and politics. In this review, we will discuss the key aspects of the book, including its
historical context, summary of ideas, critical analysis, and concluding thoughts.
“The Communist Manifesto" consist joint ideas of Marx and Engels, but Marx alone wrote the
final draft. The text became a significant political influence on the German public. The concept
of communism was originated in Germany but latter Marx being expelled from the country. He
then move to London and the pamphlet's 1850 publication in English for the first time.
The manifesto has been widely read around the world since the late 19th century and remains
the foundation for critiques of capitalism.

Summary of the Book:

Marx and Engels started writing the manifesto by pointing out that the capatalist powers
considered communism as a threat.
"A spectre is haunting Europe—the spectre of communism."
Marx and Engels had mentioned about the fear of capital class regarding communism, they
thought that communism could change the power structure and the economic system known
as capitalism and in this their power will be snached by them. The book consist of four chapters
which are summarized here.

Chapter 1: Bourgeois and Proletarians

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

In this chapter of the manifesto, Marx and Engels explain the evolution of capitalism and the
exploitative class structure that resulted from it. They further states that this unequal
distribution of wealth originated new class system composed primarily of a bourgeoisie (owners
of the means of production) and proletariat (wage workers). Marx and Engels explain:
"The modern bourgeois society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done
away with class antagonisms. It has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression,
new forms of struggle in place of the old ones."
They stated that with the end of feudal system class difference did not change but the means of
production are controlled by bourgeois (capital class) and there was present competition and
private ownership of land forever exploiting and suppressing the proletariat (working class).

Next, Marx and Engels discuss the cruel, exploitative reality of what happens when workers are
forced to compete with each other and sell their labor to the owners of capital. As the capitalist
system grows, expands, and evolves, its methods and relations of production and ownership
are increasingly centralized within it. Marx and Engels end this section with this conclusion:
"What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its
fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable."

Marx and Engels' belief in the historical inevitability of the proletariat's victory over the
bourgeoisie. They stated that the capitalist system, through its own cruel activities, creates the
conditions necessary for its own downfall, establishing the way for a new social order.

Chapter 2: Proletarians and Communists

"In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall
have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free
development of all."
In this Marx and Engels told us about association mean the Communist Party and what it wants
for society. They explained in this section of book that after the end up of Bourgeois a new
association will come into existence and this organization stands out because it does not
represent a particular faction of workers. Rather, it represents the interests of workers (the
proletariat) as a whole. The class conflict created by capitalism and in which bourgeoisie rule
and shape these interests, which even go beyond the national borders just for the sake to fulfill
their own interests.
Marx and Engels state the following 10 goals of the Communist Party:

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State
capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing
into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance
with a common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for
agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the
distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace
over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in
its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.

Chapter 3: Socialist and Communist Literature

In the third part of the manifesto, Marx and Engels present an overview of three types of
critique against the bourgeoisie.

These include reactionary socialism, conservative or bourgeois socialism, and critical-

utopian socialism or communism. They explain that the first type either seeks to return
to a feudal structure or preserve conditions as they are. This type is actually opposed to
the goals of the Communist Party.

Conservative or bourgeois socialism stems from members of the bourgeoisie savvy

enough to know that one must address some grievances of the proletariat to maintain
the system as it is. Marx and Engels note that economists, philanthropists,
humanitarians, those who run charities, and many other "do-gooders" espouse and
produce this particular ideology, which seeks to make minor adjustments to the system
rather than change.

Chapter 4: Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various

Existing Opposition Parties
In the "Communist Manifesto's" final section, Marx and Engels point out that the
Communist Party supports all revolutionary movements that challenge the existing
social and political order. The manifesto ends with a call for the proletariat, or working
class, to come together. Invoking their famous rally cry, Marx and Engels say, "Working
men of all countries, unite!"

Conclusion
Marx and Engels present their revolutionary views in reaction to Capitalism. As in
Capitalism there is minimum interference of government all the means of production
are in the control of capital class. They argue that there arise conflict among people of
society and society is divided into classes, the bourgeois and proletarians through the
concept of property. The bourgeois control the means of production while labor were
taken from proletarians and they are being exploited by rich class which arises conflict
in the society and Marx and Engels called this class conflict.

They then state the communist party and how the communist party can promote the
interest of poor class and fulfill their needs.

Marx and Engels were the first who point out the class difference in society and put
forward the rights of poor or labor class. They arise the concept that poor or labors also
have the rights to live a proper life and they deserve it because they do hard work even
more than that of capitalists or owner of means of production.

They give the new mindset of equality and classless society where all are equal and no
one is prior over other on the basis of property. All aspects, explained by Marx and
Engels in Marxism have also some drawbacks.

As they advocate for maximum interfere of state in public life, but this will confine
human liberty and people become bonded men to state.

The other thing that they abolished the capitalism fully with which competition among
people will also abolished, competition is good for quality product and such competition
leads economic development of society which will missing under the concept of
Marxism.

Marxism reject the right of property and belief that it is the main cause of conflict and
disturbance among society. Which I think is wrong because the right of private property
attracts one`s interest and such right compels an individual to have interest in his
activities and work. Private property ownership is strong source of motivation which will
be abolished through Marxism.

The End