Karl Marx Correspondence Network Summary

1. The purpose of the network of correspondence between the German socialists and French and English socialists that Marx wanted Proudhon to join was to keep both groups informed about the socialist and communist progress being made in the different countries. In 1846, when this letter was written, sweeping changes were being made in Europe, Germany, and Britain. Proudhon had already authored “What is Property?” (1840), and Marx was about to publish the “Communist Manifesto” with Engles. On top of this, France was on the eve of another revolution. Globally, measures were being taken to change conditions for the working class. Marx wanted him to join the correspondence network so that socialist and communists everywhere would know how the movements were going. They did not want to lose momentum in their progress, and it was believed that this correspondence network would allow them to
He compares Marx’s analysis to religious dogma because Marx believes there will be a revolution in which the proletariat rises up. When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, there was a revolution in the Catholic Church as people excommunicated the Pope and formed new ideas on theology after they were posted. It was a revolution within the church as things changed dramatically within it. As a prominent socialist leader, Proudhon does not want society to have a revolution such as that which Marx predicts. He says that he does not want to join the correspondence network if a revolution that changes everything quickly and dramatically happens. Proudhon does not think a revolution even needs to occur. He uses the revolution in the Catholic Church that came after the 95 Theses and ideas of Luther to illustrate the type of dramatic revolution he does not want to occur. In this illustration, Proudhon compares Marx’s analysis of the “scientific questions” to the ideas or “religious dogmas” of Luther as Marx’s ideas could spark a societal revolution if the proletariat were to rise