Karl Marx and Frederick Engels are pivotal figures in the history of political thought, known for their revolutionary ideas that have influenced numerous political movements around the world. In 1848, they introduced a groundbreaking work that would become a cornerstone for socialist and communist ideologies.
The Birth of ‘The Communist Manifesto’
In the mid-19th century, Karl Marx, a German philosopher and economist, alongside his compatriot Frederick Engels, published a seminal text titled ‘The Communist Manifesto’. This publication was a response to what they considered the naïve idealism of utopian socialists. Instead, Marx and Engels presented a new approach, which they termed ‘scientific socialism’. This theory was grounded in a systematic analysis of historical and economic processes, rather than mere speculative idealism.
Marx’s Critique of Capitalism in ‘Das Kapital’
Marx continued to develop his critique of capitalist societies in his later work, ‘Das Kapital’. In this extensive treatise, he argued that the working class, or proletariat, should have control over a nation’s economy and its social conditions. According to Marx, the control of an economy is a pivotal factor in the course of history. He believed that the value of goods and services should be determined by those who produce them, not by the minority who own the means of production—typically the capitalists. Under the capitalist system, Marx contended, the majority, who are workers, are disenfranchised from the true value of their labor and the goods they produce.
International Workers’ Movement and the Rise of Socialist Parties
The ideas propagated by Marx and Engels found resonance among workers and led to the formation of the International Workingmen’s Association, also known as the First International, in 1864. A subsequent meeting in 1889 further solidified the movement, which encouraged workers from across the globe to unite. The influence of socialist parties began to spread internationally, with these groups gaining significant political influence in various countries. The International became a platform for advocating workers’ rights and challenging the prevailing capitalist structures.
Socialist Ideas and the Challenge to Bourgeois Rule
Socialism emerged as a challenge to the bourgeois or middle-class rule that had replaced the absolute monarchies and aristocracies of old regimes. The rise of new governments often led to the lifting of restrictions on business enterprises, but little attention was given to improving the plight of workers. Socialist thinkers and movements aimed to address this oversight by advocating for legislation and systems that would benefit the working class and ensure a more equitable distribution of wealth and power.
Questions for UPSC
1. How did Marx’s idea of ‘scientific socialism’ differ from the earlier utopian socialist concepts?
2. In what ways did the publication of ‘The Communist Manifesto’ influence the international workers’ movement?
3. What were the consequences of the lack of legislative attention to workers’ conditions during the rise of bourgeois governments according to socialist thinkers?