Reviews - The Communist Manifesto

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels

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I decided to read The Communist Manifesto for myself and form my own opinion of it, rather than just listen to the loud dueling opinions people have on it, often treating it as either holy or profane. I seem to find myself in neither camp, so I’ll share my thoughts for whatever they’re worth.

I think that the core premise Marx and Engels propose, that society in the various forms it has taken is built on class struggle, is a valid one, though I think that they may simplify it a little bit too much. However, this simplification does mean that the Manifesto provides a good starting point for some theory, even if some of their methods are abandoned along the way. Looking at the world of today, or at least America, I have no doubt that Marx would be furious at what capitalism has wrought, and rightfully so. How he encourages moving to a new way of doing things is where he would be likely to lose people.

I think that part of why this feels so incomplete to me is the fact that I’ve spent so much time the past few years learning to look at things from a more intersectional perspective that breaking everything down to a class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat ignores how people are oppressed for more than just economic class. Perhaps I need to read more by Marx and Engels to better understand their views on racial oppression and understand how they would view issues that have gained more prominence in recent years?

Regardless, I think that they have some good things to say in this, even if one doesn’t fully agree with their conclusions. It would probably be good if more people read this and understood what it actually says instead of just deciding that communism = evil or that Marx should be worshipped based on what others have told them.

carmenx9's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

Feels quite stupid giving The Communist Manifesto a star rating but hey, it's as good as everyone says! Amazing how clear-eyed, incendiary, and vital it still feels almost two centuries later even in arguably very different times and globalised world economies - partly because there's a line that can be traced from what Marx and Engels say here through to these changed times.

The reason this isn't 5* is this volume in particular - the context provided by essays on the Young Hegelians and other social(ist) movements and thinkers is very good from a historical perspective, but the editor seems to think communism's only impact on history is the Soviet Union and says capitalism has 'won' post-1990, relegating the Manifesto to historical significance only. But in the many intros to the various Manifesto re-publications, Engels mentions the fight for the 10 (and then 8) hour workday, and countries around the world outside of Russia / the USSR have been inspired by Marx's words and worldview. Lastly, the Manifesto is treated too much as a coherent philosophy rather than a rallying cry and call to arms, and what makes it and all manifestos so special is that it is a flash in a pan, lightning in a bottle that captured imaginations and hearts. So this is a great edition to read, but you aren't getting the *whole* picture with the bonus material.