Principles of Communism

Principles of Communism (German: Grundsätze des Kommunismus) is a book written in 1847 by Friedrich Engels, the co-founder of Marxism. It is structured as a catechism,[1] containing 25 questions about communism, which Engels provides an answer to. Engels explains the basics of communism, and discusses society, history, and economic systems from a Marxist point of view, with the materialist conception of history in focus. It was used as a base for the writing of the longer Manifesto of the Communist Party.[2][3][4]

Main ideas

The topics Engels discusses are communism, the proletariat and its origin, wage labor, comparisons between proletarians, slaves, serfs, handicraftsmen and manufacturing workers, the consequences of the industrial revolution, crisis, the "new social order" of communism, the possibility of the abolition of private property before the industrial revolution, whether such an abolition can take place peacefully, the revolution and its global character, the consequences of the abolition of private property, the influence of communist society on the family, nationalities, and religions, the differences between communists and other groups of socialists at the time, and the attitude of communists to the political parties of the time.

Among other things, Engels says that the first step of the proletarian revolution will be establishing a democratic constitution. He states that the peaceful abolition of private property is seen as "desirable" by communists, but also questions how likely it is, noting the violence of counter-revolutionaries.[5] He says that the revolution will transform society "gradually", and that only at a certain stage will it be "able to abolish private property". He emphasizes that the revolution cannot be limited to one country.[6] He says that the first consequence of the abolition of private property will be that society will take ownership of the forces of production and means of commerce, managing them "in accordance with a plan based on the availability of resources and the needs of the whole society". He notes that all the branches of production will be operated by "society as a whole".

Engels writes that private property is the source of oppression of women and children, and that the abolition of private property will end it.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Bedacht, Max (1925). "Introduction" (PDF). Principles of Communism. Little Red Library. Chicago: Daily Worker Pub. Co. p. 4. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ↑ The Life of Friedrich Engels, Volume 1. William Otto Henderson. p. 106
  3. ↑ Marx on Gender and the Family: A Critical Study. Heather Brown. p. 53
  4. ↑ Marx and Engels: Their Contribution to the Democratic Breakthrough. August H. Nimtz. p. 53
  5. ↑ Marx: A Guide for the Perplexed. John Seed. p. 140
  6. ↑ Marx's General: The Revolutionary Life of Friedrich Engels. Tristram Hunt. p. 144
  7. ↑ Marx on Gender and the Family: A Critical Study. Heather Brown. p. 54
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