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The Communist Manifesto: Book Critique

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The Communist Manifesto: Book Critique
Joseph Carpinelli
English, 7
Mrs. Hilliard
The Communist Manifesto: Book Critique April 5, 2013

In The Communist Manifesto, otherwise known as The Manifesto of the Communist Party, Karl Marx, the author and experienced political writer, attempts to explain the intentions and beliefs of the Communist Party. He explains the bases for all historical development and dabbles in his view of how the revolution will occur. The vast majority of the manifesto is centered on capitalism and its flaws. The manifesto does not actually go into much detail about how Communists would run the economy and society as a whole, and seems to be more about how he thinks Communists should go about bracing the revolution, their goals, and how he believes it will transpire. The goals of the communists, as in the book, are to make the working class aware of class antagonisms, therefore instilling in them a need for revolution leading to the abolition of private property, and ultimately, a communistic world.

The beginning of the book opens with the statement of its purpose, which is to make the views and inclinations of the Communists public. He discusses class struggles, property, and the nature of what he calls “proletariats”. In the beginning of section 1, Marx is stating that classes are created based on the economic system of the era. He is saying when an economic system are in place, this system is the bases for the creation of the different classes. These classes are conflicted in the simple relationship of either being the oppressed or the oppressor. He also claims that this struggle between classes is the driving force for all historical development. This is apparent in the quote “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” (Marx, 13). He goes on to say that these relationships between classes will eventually become incompatible with the new and developing forces of production. When this occurs, a revolution occurs, and a new ruling class

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