Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto describes the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The Bourgeoisie are capitalist and the owners of the industries while the proletarians are employed by the Bourgeoisie to work in the factories (Marx& Friedrich). Critical points of part 1 of the Communist Manifesto highlight the class struggles between the Bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Even though the idea of classes has not changed much from the past to the present, the class structure is essential for communism because it can be broken to empower the proletariat. In my opinion, the target audience has the power to change their position because they are a vast majority acting in the interest of the public.
The issues of class struggle are presented in terms of the Bourgeoisie oppression towards the proletariat, as well as the revolutionary retaliation by the proletariat against the Bourgeoisie Mark argues that capitalist Bourgeoisie mercilessly exploits the proletariat by controlling the production process to make a profit. The reason is that products produced in the industries are sold for more than the value of the labor (From Harmony to Revolution). Thus, they pay the proletariat’s labor with just enough to survive and continue working. The Proletarians can only find work if their labor increases capital, which makes them vulnerable to all the fluctuations of the market. Due to the continued exploitation of the proletariat, they develop an attitude that seeks to overthrow their oppressors .chances are that they might succeed given their numbers and that they are unified for a common purpose. With the technological advancements in the industry, the population of the proletariat increased because the demand for products increases. Thus, they became more concentrated and more. Moreover, distinctions among the proletariat are dissolved because they all receive low equal wages. As a result, they begin to form trade unions to address their shared problem (From Harmony to Revolution). With the increased means of communication, the proletariat is unified further, such that their struggles take a national character. Additionally, other classes use the proletarians to advance their political positions, which gives them the tools to revolt against the Bourgeoisie. With such, the proletariat can manage the change their position resulting in the emergence of a classless society.
The idea of class in society back then and now is pretty much the same but remains essential for communism. During the authors’ period, classes were necessary because the bourgeoisies needed people to work for them to maintain their high social status. thus, the authors state, “he becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the most simple, most monotonous, and most easily acquired knack, that is required of him (Marx& Friedrich).” In the modern world, the concept of class has far-reaching consequences on a person. Today, individuals are stratified based on income, wealth, occupation, education, and social network. Most people believe in the three-class model that includes the upper class, middle class, and the working class. People of the highest universal bracket have better access to education and health care than those from other categories. The class structure is essential to the argument for communism for two reasons. First, communism believes that only abolishing class hierarchy can the proletariat be empowered. The authors assert that ”we shall have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all (Marx& Friedrich)”. This argument implies that without class, resources are distributed equitably, and everyone enjoys the benefits, and the collective society improves. Second, communism respects all members of the community, and so, it provides everybody an equal opportunity for development(Marx& Friedrich). According to the authors, ”communism deprives no man of the power to appropriate the products of society.”
Works Cited
From harmony to revolution: The birth and growth of socialism. East Los Angeles College Library, 3 May 2009, https://digital-films-com.libproxy.elac.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=35664
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. Manifesto of the Communist Party. Progress Publishers, Moscow.