Summary
The Manifesto begins by announcing, "A spectre is haunting Europe--the spectre
of Communism." All of the European powers have allied themselves against
Communism, frequently demonizing its ideas. Therefore, the Communists have
assembled in London and written this Manifesto in order to make public their
views, aims and tendencies, and to dispel the maliciously implanted
misconceptions.
The Manifesto begins by addressing the issue of class antagonism. Marx writes,
"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class
struggles." Throughout history we see the oppressor and oppressed in constant
opposition to each other. This fight is sometimes hidden and sometimes open.
However, each time the fight ends in either a revolutionary reconstruction of
society or in the classes' common ruin.
In earlier ages, we saw society arranged into complicated class structures. For
example, in medieval times there were feudal lords, vassals, guild-masters,
journeymen, apprentices and serfs. Modern bourgeois society sprouted from the
ruins of feudal society. This society has class antagonisms as well, but it is
also unique: class antagonisms have become simplified, as society increasingly
splits into two rival camps--Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.
The Manifesto then shows how the modern bourgeoisie is the product of several
revolutions in the mode of production and of exchange. The development
of the bourgeoisie began in the earliest towns, and gained momentum with the Age
of Exploration. Feudal guilds couldn't provide for increasing markets, and the
manufacturing middle class took its place. However, markets kept growing and
demand kept increasing, and manufacture couldn't keep up. This led to the
Industrial Revolution. Manufacture was replaced by "Modern Industry," and the
industrial middle class was replaced by "industrial millionaires," the modern
bourgeois. With these developments, the bourgeoisie have become powerful, and
have pushed medieval classes into the background. The development of the
bourgeoisie as a class was accompanied by a series of political developments.
With the development of Modern Industry and the world-market, the bourgeoisie
has gained exclusive political sway. The State serves solely the bourgeoisie's
interests.
Historically, the bourgeoisie has played a quite revolutionary role. Whenever
it has gained power, it has put to an end all "feudal, patriarchal, idyllic
relations." It has eliminated the relationships that bound people to their
superiors, and now all remaining relations between men are characterized by
self-interest alone. Religious fervor, chivalry and sentimentalism have all
been sacrificed. Personal worth is now measured by exchange value, and the only
freedom is that of Free Trade. Thus, exploitation that used to be veiled by
religious and political "illusions" is now direct, brutal and blatant. The
bourgeoisie has changed all occupations into wage-laboring professions, even
those that were previously honored, such as that of the doctor. Similarly,
family relations have lost their veil of sentimentality and have been reduced to
pure money relations.
In the past, industrial classes required the conservation of old modes of
production in order to survive. The bourgeoisie are unique in that they cannot
continue to exist without revolutionizing the instruments of production. This
implies revolutionizing the relations of production, and with it, all
of the relations in society. Thus, the unique uncertainties and disturbances of
the modern age have forced Man to face his real condition in life, and his true
relations with others.
