Political Thinking POL 161

1. Political ThinkingPOL 161 Erik Rankin D&B 208-222

2. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • "A spectre is haunting Europe--the spectre of Communism." • Communists have gathered in London and written a Manifesto to make public their views, aims and tendencies. • The Manifesto begins by addressing the issue of class antagonism. • "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." • History shows us the oppressor and oppressed in constant opposition to each other. • This fight is sometimes hidden and sometimes open. • Every time the fight ends in either a revolutionary reconstruction of society or in the classes' common ruin.

3. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • The Communist Manifesto begins with a statement of its purpose, to push the views, aims and ideas of the Communists. • It is a document that is meant to be read by the public, and it is meant to be easily grasped by a general audience. • This is the reason for its abbreviated format and simple language • It is also meant to be a general overview of what Communism is, both as a theory and as a political movement.

4. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx begins by introducing several of the key ideas of his theory. • The main idea is that all of history until now is made up of a series of class struggles. • Every society in history has a characteristic economic structure, which breeds different classes • This is not permanent, eventually the means of production cease to be compatible with the current class structure. • Then the structure begins to impede the development of productive forces. • Inevitably, the existing structure must be destroyed. • This explains the emergence of the bourgeoisie out of feudalism. It will also explain the eventual destruction of the bourgeoisie. • Marx feels all of history should be understood in this way—a process in which classes realign themselves in accordance with changing means of production.

5. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • A huge aspect of this theory of history is what it does not deem important • In Marx's theory, history is shaped by economic relations alone • Topics such as religion, culture, ideology, and the individual human being, play a very little role (rather odd given some ideas) • This has been one of the biggest criticisms of Marx’s theory • History for Marx moves according to impersonal forces, its overall direction is inevitable

6. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx feels that this kind of history will eventually come to an end • The Manifesto argues that this modern class conflict is the final class conflict; which brings about the end of all class relations. • Here are some of the ways in which the modern era is unique. • Classes have been simplified, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, are the only two classes • Everything is seen in terms of self- interest. • The bourgeoisie continually revolutionize the instruments of production, which leaves social relations in an unstable state.

7. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx pounds in the idea of the plight of the modern laborer. • He feels that the worker is commodified, and is a part of the machinery. • He matters only in so far as he produces, and he does not have control over his production • What do we do with non-producers? • The story of the laborer is a story of obvious exploitation, and has had great resonance with many of Marx's readers.

8. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx also shows the proletariat are a unique class (for obvious reasons) • They are the majority in society, and their numbers are growing • The biggest point he feels is that they have virtually nothing to lose • The proletarians have no power or privileges they must defend. • They must destroy the entire system, not change but utter destruction • When they have their revolution, they must destroy the entire system of class exploitation, including all private property. • That is why Marx describes this as the last part of history • This stage can only exist due in part to the existence of the other stages • The proletariat must create a revolution

9. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • He moves to ideas of religion and philosophy being rooted in people's material existence; most ideas are only the results of specific relationships of production. • Most ideas, according to Marx are those that serve the interests of the ruling class (surprise) • The ruling class makes the rules that form society, and supports those ideas that help them meet their ends • EX: the bourgeoisie glorify property rights because they own most all of the property

10. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx talks about how he feels the revolution will unfold • The workers become the rulers, eliminate private property, eliminating the vestiges of old class power • It gets tough to understand if the Manifesto is talking about history or if it is laying out specific plans (as you read form your own opinion) • Communism feels history is an unchangeable force, but also as leading to a morally desirable outcome. • What is Communist's role in the process of history? • If the revolution is an inevitable force of history, we might even question why the Communist Manifesto is necessary.

11. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx's techniques of responding to criticisms, is harsh and often quite sarcastic • Consider whether his approach is effective • Would he be more convincing if he took a more serious tone about the critiques of Communism? • BUT… • Can the Manifesto retain its "revolutionary" ideals if he did change his tone?

12. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx argues that other socialist ideas have failed because they missed out on a key component of Communist theory • Most fail to realize that the inevitability of the bourgeoisie's rise, and of their eventual fall at the hands of the proletariat • The Conservative Socialists, do not see the obvious features of class antagonism, and of the destruction of the bourgeoisie. • The Critical-Utopian Socialists do not understand that social change must occur in revolutions, and not by words with dream like qualities • Here you see the turn towards violence

13. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • For us Marx's discussion of the second subgroup deserves the most consideration. • The Conservative Socialism that Marx abhors is same the attitude embraced by the United States toward the working class. • Welfare, Social Security and a minimum wage are all practices that Marx would say act to preserve the capitalist system by making the position of the proletariat tolerable. • Marx argues that these "reforms" are really done in the interests of the bourgeois, in order to appease the proletariat and make them accept their social role • This is hard to swallow, but Marx feels that “reforms” are not done to protect you at all, rather to make accept to role in society quietly • This is the reason that Marx and his ideals still exist in society today • Is this argument compelling to you?

14. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx believes this type of Socialism is wrong; he feels that the only way fix the problems of the proletariat is by restructuring economic and social relations • This is a revolutionary act; the suggested reforms of Conservative Socialists are merely there to serve the elite • How does Marx's theories apply to the U.S. or Western European nations--nations that have instituted such "Conservative Socialist" programs? • Is Marx right saying reforms serve the interests of the ruling capitalists, and not the workers? • Looking back and having seen "Conservative Socialism" in action, do you see historical evidence supporting Marx's claims of the inevitability of a proletariat uprising? • If so, do you feel there is a desirability of such an uprising?

15. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx ends by showing what his political agenda has in store. • The end goal is a proletariat revolution and the abolition of private property and class differences • He feels that history must go through stages, this may mean sometimes supporting the bourgeoisie, in order to eventually make a workers' revolution possible • HUH? • While the Communists have a strong foundation, combining observations and predictions, they are also advocating those predictions, and attempting to accelerate their realization.

16. The Communist Manifesto- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels • Marx does not simply declare that workers shall one day unite • He calls on workers to unite, promising them freedom and a better world free of class struggles • How separable are the political and theoretical messages of the Communists? • Is the Communists' theory of history an essential part of its revolutionary message? • By this I mean, since this revolution is inevitable, is it difficult to disagree with Marx? • His theory might seem awful open ended, and very applicable today (be fearful!) • Ask yourself how the Communist cause might be helped or harmed by the claim that revolution is inevitable