Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engles - Essay Example

Communist Manifesto The central concepts of Marxist economics include the theory of labour value, the disposition of production and the inevitable conflicts between the classes. Conflicts will always persist because the upper class can never totally control the lower classes. Lesser concepts include the idea of increased misery, the obsession with possessions and the consequences of economic alienation. Marx’s theories of labour value combined with his concepts of capitalism endeavour to clarify how the revenue system operates to the benefit of the upper classes and the detriment of the lower classes.

The Marxist conflict theory views capitalist production as an essential element of class struggle. A social class consists of individuals grouped in relation to their ability to produce wealth and in their shared relationship to those that own the production methods. “For Marx and Engels the class struggle between the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class) is the great lever of modern social change” (Knox, 1988: 160). The three classes Marx identified based on their income source, labour, capitalist and landowner status are today known as the low classes, labour and capitalist.

This theory of class distinction is criticized by some who do not term class by means of ownership or the methods of wealth creation but with regard to lifestyle and prestige. However, this point of view seems very hollow when considering that a mere two percent of the world’s population possess enough wealth to subsist comfortably on the revenue it provides while the vast majority are employed by others or survive via welfare benefits. (Marx & Engels, 1958) Marx theorized that the conversion of minds and social structures to communism would end the divisions between social class in addition erasing the tyrannical line that divides governmental authority and society.

There would be no need for political institutions or private property. Social justice would not have to be legislated because the antagonistic obstruction to social accord Marx believes stems from an individual’s ego and ‘one-sided development’ would be all but eliminated. (Marx & Engels, 1958). Marxism theorizes that as capitalism persists, it exacerbates the misery level for working class individuals. Marxist theory envisions the future of society as free of capitalism, replaced by the collective utopia brought about by communism.

This was thought to be the natural course of mankind in which Marx had drawn-up the blueprint (Hunt, 1974: 212). Marx and Engels held the optimistic viewpoint that the working class would create a society based in equality and would be more humane than capitalism was capable of attaining. “The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class” (Marx & Engels, 1958). Marx theorized that the evolving ideologies of society as a whole are governed by the upper-classes.

This sentiment is an obvious truth. The ruling class makes the laws which define a society’s collective morality. Both Marx and Engels could not have been more wrong regarding the demise of capitalism and in their calculations regarding the timing of a communist rebellion. Engels foretold of the end-time of capitalism being about eight years from 1845, the year of his prediction. He viewed the 1847 depression as the beginning of the end for capitalism (Hunt, 1974: 141). Marx and Engels were rather over-optimistic in their collective assessment of the rise of socialism and somewhat unwise to set a specific date for its inception.

This can be written-off to their confidence in the socialist system but it is puzzling that these learned men believed the working masses would collectively and quickly educate themselves then systematically adopt socialist ideals Works CitedHunt, R.N. The Political Ideas of Marx and Engels. Pittsburg: University of Pittsburg Press, 1974. Knox, E. “Marx, Class and Socialism.” Socialist Standard. (August 1988).Marx, Karl & Engels, Frederick. Manifesto of the Communist Party. London and Moscow: Lawrence & Wishart and Progress, 1958.