Argumentation Based on Marx's Communist Manifesto - Essay Example

Argumentation essay based on Karl Marx "The Communist Manifesto" The communist manifesto was structured to explain the goals of communism and various theories underlying this movement. It argues the struggle between different classes, or exploitation of one class by the other. This acts as the motivating force behind the development of the ideas. The relationship between classes is classified as an era of the means of production. However, this relationship does not exist as it becomes incompatible with the developing forces of production. Modern industrial society is typified by class struggle between those who owns the factors of production and proletariat. However, the influence of capitalism has been on the decline and is ceasing to be compatible with this exploitive relationship. Therefore, those who provide labor will lead a revolution. This revolution will be different from the previous one. This is because in this revolution the proletariat will have to destroy all ownership of private property. In turn, this will lead to a complete overhaul of the classes eventually disappearing. The manifesto argument is that this development is unstoppable, and capitalism will inherently collapse. As a result, the communist engage in promoting revolution, and this will ensure that those involved are able to move history towards its natural conclusion. They concur that elimination of social classes cannot take through reforms or changes in government. They know that such fundamental changes can only take place through a revolution. The Communist Manifesto was a plan by Marx and Friedrich Engels. They argue that for changes to take place in both society and political institutions it must be driven by a process of universal struggle on parts of groups of people with similar economic fate in order to realize their material or economic interests (Marx-Engels Archive 1). These struggles as shown in the history have been struggles of economically inferior classes against economically dominant classes who are against their economic interests (Marx-Engels Archive 1). This process has shaped the current industrialized world: the bourgeoisie in its struggle against the aristocratic class of feudal society (Marx-Engels Archive 1). This has been heightened through travel to different parts of the world, and the discovery of new products and goods that created rooms for commercial activities. This is because the bourgeoisie whose purpose is to accumulate managed to grow wealthier and became politically emboldened against the feudal order. In fact, the bourgeoisie have uplifted their authority to a stable entity in the society and drives various sector of the economy in pursuit of their interests. The interest of accumulation by the merchants has assured them to overcome the globe. They have forced almost all to adopt the capitalist mode of production. On the other hand, the bourgeois have fundamentally altered all aspects of the society, even the families and hence substituted rural civilization with enormous cities. Through industrialization, the means of production and exchange that drives this process of expansion and change have resulted to subordinate class whose fate is determined by the bourgeoisie (Marx-Engels Archive 1). This class is the proletariat, and they have been uprooted by capitalism and hence are forced to sell labor to the bourgeoisie. This offends them as they remember how before they possessed and sold what they produced (Marx-Engels Archive 1). They face exploitation and are forced to compete with one another for forever-shrinking wages as means of production becomes more complicated. However, the workers will become enlightened and unite to fight their common enemy: the bourgeoisie. Furthermore, they will cooperate with an increasing number of middle class whose source of livelihoods keep on dwindling due to large factories owned by a shrinking number of superrich industries (Marx-Engels Archive 1). The bourgeoisie will eventually be the author of their own downfall. This paper seeks to delve on argumentation based on Karl Marx "The Communist Manifesto" with supporting evidence. Firstly, the rise of the bourgeoisie at the expense of the poor is amplified in United States today. In this, the society breeds different classes: there are a distinct class differences. There is a conflict of economically inferior classes against the economically dominant classes. This was an essential feature of Karl Marx case. The argument was that few continue to accrue resources while the rest of the population remains stained in the lower class. This was the most basic description of the ideas of capitalism. For example, the America competition in the world depends on the function it performs. This has been the main reasons as to why the income keeps on varying. In fact, the fortunes of ordinary producers have been declining. According to Reich (1), the In-persons servers are becoming poor, although their fate is still unknown. However, the symbolic analysts are succeeding in the world economy. In deed, there was a time when all the Americans were sailing in the same economic boat. There are those that benefited with the rise of the corporation while others’ economic fortunes dwindled significantly. This was because the national economy became productive. In fact, the national border no longer defines the wealth of the United States. Marx calls for cessation of classes of society. Secondly, Marx argues that as the means of production becomes more complicated the working class undergoes exploitation and is forced to compete with one another for forever-shrinking wages. For example, in United States, the midcentury routine production workers were paid relatively well (Reich 1). The structured organizations at the core of each leading industry coordinated their prices and investment. This way they managed to avoid the harsh winds of competition and thus maintained healthy earnings. Most of the earnings went to production workers. This ensured there was an affluent middle class that could afford things produced in high volumes by the core corporations. However, this established relationship is rapidly breaking down into global webs that earn their largest profits from adept problem solving (Reich 1). This means that current factories and technology can be installed almost everywhere on the globe. As a result, the producers in this country are in direct competition with millions of routine producers in other nations (Reich 2). This happens with increasing population, and as a result, most will be willing to commit to work for a small fraction of the wages of routine producers in America. Moreover, the competition has forced industries to move to areas they can make more profit at a low cost of labor. For example, heavy industries find places they can get cheap labor and make high amount of profit. Such industries exist in areas such as Maquiladora factories on the Mexican side of the US border that are owned by Americans. However, Japanese who assemble parts in finished goods to be shipped to the United States increasingly own such industries. Secondly, in the current industrialized world, the bourgeoisie is in a struggle against the aristocratic class of the feudal society. They shape things according to their own interest and at the same time exploiting the working class. Thus, the promotion of industries comes with a cost to those with lower skills in the society. Previously, such group of people used to belong to unions or benefited from prevailing wage rates established in the collective agreement. However, as the old corporate bureaucracies have flattened into global webs, the bargaining power has been lost. In fact, in United States the numbers of unionized workers have been declining even after the growth of new jobs (Reich 3). This competition exists in the working class and shows the reasons for their fragmentation. This is the real intention of the bourgeoisie. The society pays this price due to competition. According to Marx, the adoption of the capitalist mode of production leads to displacement of the work force with less skill. This means that the bourgeois determine the fate of the working class and keeps on cotrolling their ways of living. Through this, there has been a decline in lower jobs such as management jobs involving routine production. For example, in United States, those in position of supervisor, and section chiefs lost their jobs through layoffs and closing (Reich 2). This was because of America core companies’ metamorphosis into global webs and routine producers became obsolete (Reich 4). In fact, the foreign companies are more automated, and this will increase in the future making more people jobless. This means the poor working class will increase, and they will have to provide cheap labor for their survival. On the other hand, Marx argues on the redistribution of the wealth according to need instead of greed. Marx argues that this will be possible through the establishment of heavy progressive or graduated income tax, and dissolution of inheritance rights. Carnegie (1) argues that fortunes should be acquired for the best interest of the whole population. There should also be heavy taxation on large estates left at death. For example, the state of Pennsylvania now takes one tenth of the property left by its citizens after death (Carnegie 1). In addition, the budget in Britain proposes to increase death duties. This means the amount gotten would be used for public goods and benefits the community from which it chiefly came. This form of taxation acts as a condemnation of the selfish millionaires unworthy life. Through this, it will ensure that the bourgeoisie do not promote the rights to property. According to Carnegie (1), this will ensure there is an ideal situation where the extra wealth of the few will become the property of the many. This will also help in the elevation of the race than if distributed in small sums to the people themselves. The argument against capitalism has been proofed in areas such as Israelians Kibbutz and Korea. In this region, communism was a success. There are several reasons as to why it was a success. Firstly, in this region communism was not enforced but it used to be a way of their life. In Kibbutz, they choose their way of life that is favorable to communism ideals. Secondly, in the region there were minimal corrupt activities. Thirdly, in this region they share the ideals of engaging in cooperative voluntary activities. In contrast, the communism failed in Russia. This is because the ideals of communism were enforced to individuals, and this was not their way of life. This led to the disintegration of the union in the early 90s. There were also many corrupt activities, and this led many regions to agitate for cessation. There are those who refute the communist manifesto. They argue that there is antagonism of state and the affairs of the citizens (Wisegeek 1). They claim that this is the reason as to why communism failed in leading countries of the world. They also argue that communism promote the rate of poverty where everyone remains poor to the neighbor. Others argue that the cream in a communism society supports the majority lower class with getting any extra benefit or credit (Wisegeek 1). However, there are more benefits of communism as compared to capitalism. This is because capitalism leads to imbalance, caste system. In conclusion, it is clear that the communist manifesto has been prominent for over two centuries. In fact, the issues addressed are still relevant in the society today. Some believe that the communist manifesto is sustainable while others believe it is not feasible. There is also a clear demonstration that the capitalist model is faced with different challenges. However, it is clear that the manifesto sets the guidelines for the development of a just society where everybody is treated equal. Marx view on capitalism is two sided. Marx agrees with progress resulting from capitalism and at the same time views it as a form of exploitation and alienation. Works Cited Carnegie, Andrew. “The Gospel of Wealth.” Virginia.edu. Web March 28, 2013. < http://xroads.virginia.edu/~drbr/wealth.html>. Marx-Engels Archive. “Manifesto of the Communist Party.” Marxists.org. Web March 28, 2013. < http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01.htm>. Reich, Robert. “Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer.” Temple.edu. Web March 28, 2013. < http://isc.temple.edu/neighbor/world/reich_richer-poorer_1991.pdf>. Wisegeek. “Why Didn't Communism Work in Eastern Europe?” Wisegeek.org. Web March 28, 2013. < http://www.wisegeek.org/why-didnt-communism-work-in-east-europe.htm>. Read More