Communist Manifesto

Greetings and salutations

This blog submission considers a particular vision of Karl Marx, one that encourages us to open our minds to see Communism in a less extreme and negative light. So without further ado, welcome aboard the Communist Manifesto.

Whats is it?

The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. It was published in many countries, translated into respective languages (including German, Flemish, French and Italian). It was translated into English in 1841 and published in 1848. It is written in very clear language, the ideas are still relevant today since the rules, reasons and principles are very precise.

What is it's purpose?

It was written because ‘communists should openly, in the face of the whole world’, suggest their solutions to rid class struggle where the ‘oppressor and oppressed’ exist (eg. Landowner and Serf in Medieval history). Marx writes that the truth of communist ideas must be shared since people are living under a perception that is a 'nursery tale' when Communists are 'practically, the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country'.

How is it structured?

The first section considers the pull between Bourgeois (middle class or capitalists) and Proletarians (wage labourers who have to give up powers in order to survive). The second section discusses proletarians and communists. The third section (which has three sub-headings) explains socialist and communist literature. The second section is debatably the most enjoyable in providing a good sense of what the communist ideas are all about and why they could address very serious problems.

What is its message?

Modern Bourgeoisie society developed from the ruins of feudal society and is viewed negatively; the bourgeois family is merely a money focused unit and bourgeoisie society uses too much mass production. The working class have always been exploited even though they produced the higher classes wealth and splendour (for example, Israelite slaves built many of the Egyptian splendour). The Proletarians were a group of workers who were effective through good communication and set up to establish themselves as different to the communists although they focused on the 'common interest of the entire proletariat'. Conservative Socialism desperately tried to hold onto bourgeoisie society although the opposition wrote pamphlets against them. Being against the 'Royal We' (the oppressor says but doesn't do), questioning the necessity of trade, insulting gigantic means of production, notices of eviction, no private property, communities of women, regulated and scheduled life, proletarians having the skills; use them as a machine, this is the essence of the debate.

We are told that the Communist Manifesto was hugely influential but what was its actual effect on the world and what 'real' examples of Communism are there?

'Successful' examples of Communism include, China today, the Russian Soviet Union (1922 - 1991) and the Kibbutz's in Israel. Communism has been successful in Russia and China because of very strong, dominate and forthright leaders. The Communist Manifesto was successful because it is so practically written, so simple and relevant. It also gave the poor a chance to have power which was attractive. China is very monitored and controlled and citizens do not always have much access to the Western World; a very 'closed' country.

In a Kibbutz, based on Marx's ten rules, married couples were discouraged to sit together since coupling presented exclusivity, and they were not permitted to have kettles in their rooms, not because of cost but because 'couples owning teakettles would mean more time spent together in their apartments, rather than with the community in the dining hall' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz). There was very little space for individuality or traditional family life, children slept in a communal children's area and only spent a few hours with their parents a day. Financially 'kibbutzniks had no individual bank accounttime-wasting experience' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz).

Would England benefit from a communist society today and is such an idea even conceivable?

A messageof communism is to provide financial equality; less of the unfair divide between extreme wealth and extreme poverty and to therefore provide a society that is acutely fair. It is probably more conceivable for the higher classes to take on a deep and intellectual consideration for the nation's well being in this regard, particularly if it could be proved that it would save and improve the economic crisis for example. Whether they would be willing to sacrifice their status and wealth for the cause is debatable. It would therefore be assumed that the wage labourers and the unemployed would benefit greatly and eagerly support the ideas of communism instead, however this would mean that they would have to work in a particular, structured manner. Today an unemployed person can sign in at Job Seekers and receive a weekly benefit (usually £50) merely because they are looking for work. There is quite a difference between being paid to look for a job whilst enjoying and considering your freedom, and having to do a job, without being paid individually but being assured that you will have everything you need in order to live.

I should like to end of now with a recommendation to watch this very entertaining video (it is the Communist Manifesto illustrated by cartoons, amusing indeed):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KUl4yfABE4

Please do debate, expand on my questions or answers and ask your own.

Jenni