Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

The Communist Manifesto

17:05 min

Philosophy & Ideology, Classics

288 pages, 1848

In this short that continues to influence political thought nearly two centuries after its publication, Marx and Engels reveal how technological progress and the rise of industrial capitalism transformed society in unexpected ways. One of history's most widely read political texts, their work analyzes how a new economic system created unprecedented wealth while simultaneously producing a large working class living in poverty. Through examination of historical developments, the authors explain how this fundamental conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers) leads to an inevitable revolution. The short presents a systematic solution: the formation of a communist movement to abolish private property and class distinctions. Marx and Engels' analysis has remained relevant across generations, providing a critique of capitalism and a vision for restructuring society that continues to be studied and debated worldwide.

Karl Marx

Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a 19th-century German philosopher, economist, and sociologist who developed influential theories about society, economics, and class relations. He spent years studying political economy and social structures while living in exile in London, where he conducted extensive research at the British Museum Reading Room. His analysis of capitalism, class struggle, and historical materialism fundamentally shaped modern social, political, and economic thought, influencing numerous movements and thinkers across the globe.

Chapters

The bourgeoisie's rise through technological and economic revolution transformed society from complex feudal hierarchies into a simpler two-class system, creating unprecedented productive capacity but also sowing the seeds of its own destruction.

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