Capitalism, Class Conflict, and The Communist Manifesto
In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published “The Communist Manifesto,” in which they introduced the concept of socialism as a natural result of conflicts inherent in the capitalist system. The Communist Manifesto argues that behind historical development there is the motivating force of class struggle or exploitation of one class by another. The class relationships are distinct according to the means of production of an era. A revolution arises, and this results in the emergence of a new ruling class which is driven by large economic forces. It further states that this development of class is inevitable, and capitalism is inherently unstable. To eliminate social class differences, a revolution will be needed through changes and reforms in the government. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the world changed incredibly, and people thus changed the Communist Manifesto according to their requirements. They forgot the real idea behind the manifesto and transformed and implemented it according to their preferences and wishes.
The mid-18th century was a time of great change in Europe. The Industrial Revolution changed skilled craftsmen into exploited labor. At that time, Marx and Engels wrote their Manifesto to bring social reforms. In the manifesto, they stated, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. Freeman and slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an uninterrupted, now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes.” [1]
People predicted that capitalism would fail, the united labor forces would overthrow the oppressive businesses and landowners, and the government would collapse. Following the defeat of capitalism by the working class, a new classless society would emerge based on the concept of “from each according to its abilities to each according to his needs.” Against capitalism, Marx and Engels introduced the theory of socialism, “a political and economic theory of social organization in which the means of distribution, production, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.” The profit should benefit all people who own it, as well as the people who are working there. They gave this idea, and they also fought for the rights of people and against capitalism.
Workers, Historical Change, and the Revolutionary Argument of Marx and Engels
These two men, Marx and Engels, were the first to introduce the working class to the idea that their demands are an important outcome of the present economic system. They showed that it was not the well-meaning efforts of noble-minded people but the class struggle of the organized working class or the public that freed humanity from the evils that subjugated it. They were the first to explain to the people that socialism was not a discovery of idealists, but it was the aim of the development of productive forces in modern communities. They further stated that every class struggle is a political struggle; from the past until now, the problem of succession of rule and the victory of particular social classes over others has been a major issue.[2]
The manifesto inspired the communist revolution and also the anarchists, socialists, and other anti-capitalist ideas. They brought new reforms to society; before then, 10% of people owned the property, and the remaining 90% sold their labor to them. The two prominent men wanted to change society and bring reforms. They wanted to create a community where industry, land, wealth, and labor would be shared among all the people in society. All the people would have their basic rights to education, choice, and participation, and the class structure would be eliminated from society.
But if Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels saw what people have done to their Communist Manifesto, they would be deeply shocked by the transformation. This is because it has not remained the same as it was at the beginning. People have transformed it according to their interests. “Granted that the 19th century was the century of socialism, liberalism, and democracy, this does not mean that the 20th century must also be the century of socialism, liberalism, and democracy. Political doctrines pass; nations remain. We are free to believe that this is the century of authority, a century tending to the right, a Fascist century. If the 19th century was the century of the individual, we are free to believe that this is the ‘collective’ century and, therefore, the century of the State.” [3] Mussolini, in his book, clearly described the issues and problems faced in the 20th century by the people. He writes that it is the century of the state; despite socialism and liberalism, the higher authorities misuse their power. They have forgotten the main idea behind the concept of Marx and Engels.
Russia, China, and the Transformation of Communist Ideology
Russia and China are two of the biggest powers practicing communism, and they both have completely changed the original idea behind the Communist Manifesto of Marx. Stalin revised and made some fundamental changes in the political theory of Marxism with some adjustments by proclaiming that it would overcome the economic obstacles and develop a socialist society. He simply reshaped it according to his interests and declared it the correct interpretation of Marx’s theory. “Stalin’s transformation of the aims and practices of Communism was directly responsible for the fundamental changes in the realm of Communist thinking, not only with respect to what was thought but with respect to the basic function of doctrine in the Communist system.” [4]
Now, the people have changed the whole idea behind the Communist Manifesto. It was about freedom, it was about equality, it was about the equal distribution of wealth, and it was about the economic system governed by the community. But as time changed, the theories changed with it; Stalin put his own ideas and thoughts into the manifesto. He changed the minds of his people, and they believed in him blindly. “Pressed by the necessity to transform their country into a modern state, the Communist leaders used every opportunity to force the population to adopt the attitudes and motivation necessary to effect such transformation. Education from nursery school to university provided special opportunities to mold attitudes.” [5] Everybody was forced during the Stalin era to promote the idea of Stalin’s Revolution.
The theories change over time according to the needs, interests, and sometimes circumstances of the leaders and countries. Today, Marx and Engels would be shocked to observe the extensive transformation in their Communist Manifesto. They drafted it to provide people with freedom, rights, and guidance, but today, leaders are using it to oppress the public. Wealth is not equally distributed, and it is concentrated among a few people and the state. As observed in China and Russia, the people do not have their basic rights to freedom of speech and choice. They follow the strict rules of their country and leaders.
References
- Marx, Karl & Engels, Friedrich.,. The Communist Manifesto. International Publishing Co. (1886).p 66 ↑
- Kollontaĭ, Aleksandra. Communism and the Family. Contemporary Publishing Association, 1920. ↑
- Mussolini, Benito. ““The Doctrine of Fascism” (1932).” Trans. E. Cope. Firenze, Italy: Vallecchi P (1938). P 338 ↑
- Daniels, Robert Vincent, ed. A documentary history of communism in Russia: from Lenin to Gorbachev. Vol. 1. UPNE, 1993. p 402 ↑
- Perry, Marvin, Matthew Berg, and James Krukones. Sources of European History: Since 1900. Nelson Education, 2010. p 222 ↑
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