共产党宣言英文版

KarlMarxandFrederickEngels

1848

1BourgeoisandProletarians2ProletariansandCommunists3SocialistandCommunistLiterature

4PositionoftheCommunistsinrelationtothevariousexistingoppositionparties

AspectreishauntingEurope--thespectreofcommunism.AllthepowersofoldEuropehaveenteredintoaholyalliancetoexorcisethisspectre:PopeandTsar,MetternichandGuizot,FrenchRadicalsandGermanpolice-spies.

Whereisthepartyinoppositionthathasnotbeendecriedascommunisticbyitsopponentsinpower?Whereistheoppositionthathasnothurledbackthebrandingreproachofcommunism,againstthemoreadvancedoppositionparties,aswellasagainstitsreactionaryadversaries?Twothingsresultfromthisfact:

I.CommunismisalreadyacknowledgedbyallEuropeanpowerstobeitselfapower.II.ItishightimethatCommunistsshouldopenly,inthefaceofthewholeworld,publishtheirviews,theiraims,theirtendencies,andmeetthisnurserytaleofthespectreofcommunismwithamanifestoofthepartyitself.

Tothisend,CommunistsofvariousnationalitieshaveassembledinLondonandsketchedthefollowingmanifesto,tobepublishedintheEnglish,French,German,Italian,FlemishandDanishlanguages.

I--BOURGEOISANDPROLETARIANS[1]

Thehistoryofallhithertoexistingsociety[2]isthehistoryofclassstruggles.

Freemanandslave,patricianandplebian,lordandserf,guild-master[3]and

journeyman,inaword,oppressorandoppressed,stoodinconstantoppositiontooneanother,carriedonanuninterrupted,nowhidden,nowopenfight,afightthateachtimeended,eitherinarevolutionaryreconstitutionofsocietyatlarge,orinthecommonruinofthecontendingclasses.

Intheearlierepochsofhistory,wefindalmosteverywhereacomplicated

arrangementofsocietyintovariousorders,amanifoldgradationofsocialrank.InancientRomewehavepatricians,knights,plebians,slaves;intheMiddleAges,feudallords,vassals,guild-masters,journeymen,apprentices,serfs;inalmostalloftheseclasses,again,subordinategradations.

Themodernbourgeoissocietythathassproutedfromtheruinsoffeudalsocietyhasnotdoneawaywithclassantagonisms.Ithasbutestablishednewclasses,newconditionsofoppression,newformsofstruggleinplaceoftheoldones.

Ourepoch,theepochofthebourgeoisie,possesses,however,thisdistinctfeature:ithassimplifiedclassantagonisms.Societyasawholeismoreandmoresplittingupintotwogreathostilecamps,intotwogreatclassesdirectlyfacingeachother--bourgeoisieandproletariat.

FromtheserfsoftheMiddleAgessprangthecharteredburghersoftheearliesttowns.Fromtheseburgessesthefirstelementsofthebourgeoisieweredeveloped.

ThediscoveryofAmerica,theroundingoftheCape,openedupfreshgroundfortherisingbourgeoisie.TheEast-IndianandChinesemarkets,thecolonizationofAmerica,tradewiththecolonies,theincreaseinthemeansofexchangeandincommoditiesgenerally,gavetocommerce,tonavigation,toindustry,animpulseneverbeforeknown,andthereby,totherevolutionaryelementinthetotteringfeudalsociety,arapiddevelopment.

Thefeudalsystemofindustry,inwhichindustrialproductionwasmonopolizedbyclosedguilds,nownolongersufficesforthegrowingwantsofthenewmarkets.Themanufacturingsystemtookitsplace.Theguild-masterswerepushedasidebythemanufacturingmiddleclass;divisionoflaborbetweenthedifferentcorporateguildsvanishedinthefaceofdivisionoflaborineachsingleworkshop.

Meantime,themarketskeptevergrowing,thedemandeverrising.Even

manufacturersnolongersufficed.Thereupon,steamandmachineryrevolutionizedindustrialproduction.Theplaceofmanufacturewastakenbythegiant,MODERNINDUSTRY;theplaceoftheindustrialmiddleclassbyindustrialmillionaires,theleadersofthewholeindustrialarmies,themodernbourgeois.

Modernindustryhasestablishedtheworldmarket,forwhichthediscoveryofAmericapavedtheway.Thismarkethasgivenanimmensedevelopmentto

commerce,tonavigation,tocommunicationbyland.Thisdevelopmenthas,inturn,reactedontheextensionofindustry;andinproportionasindustry,commerce,navigation,railwaysextended,inthesameproportionthebourgeoisiedeveloped,increaseditscapital,andpushedintothebackgroundeveryclasshandeddownfromtheMiddleAges.

Wesee,therefore,howthemodernbourgeoisieisitselftheproductofalongcourseofdevelopment,ofaseriesofrevolutionsinthemodesofproductionandofexchange.Eachstepinthedevelopmentofthebourgeoisiewasaccompaniedbyacorrespondingpoliticaladvanceinthatclass.Anoppressedclassundertheswayofthefeudalnobility,anarmedandself-governingassociationofmedievalcommune[4]:hereindependenturbanrepublic(asinItalyandGermany);theretaxable\"thirdestate\"ofthemonarchy(asinFrance);afterward,intheperiodofmanufacturingproper,servingeitherthesemi-feudalortheabsolutemonarchyasacounterpoiseagainstthenobility,and,infact,cornerstoneofthegreatmonarchiesingeneral--thebourgeoisiehasatlast,sincetheestablishmentofModernIndustryandoftheworldmarket,conqueredforitself,inthemodernrepresentativestate,exclusivepoliticalsway.Theexecutiveofthemodernstateisbutacommitteeformanagingthecommonaffairsofthewholebourgeoisie.

Thebourgeoisie,historically,hasplayedamostrevolutionarypart.

Thebourgeoisie,whereverithasgottheupperhand,hasputanendtoallfeudal,patriarchal,idyllicrelations.Ithaspitilesslytornasunderthemotleyfeudaltiesthatboundmantohis\"naturalsuperiors\andhasleftnoothernexusbetweenpeoplethannakedself-interest,thancallous\"cashpayment\".Ithasdrownedoutthemostheavenlyecstaciesofreligiousfervor,ofchivalrousenthusiasm,ofphilistine

sentimentalism,intheicywaterofegotisticalcalculation.Ithasresolvedpersonalworthintoexchangevalue,andinplaceofthenumberlessindefeasiblecharteredfreedoms,hassetupthatsingle,unconscionablefreedom--FreeTrade.Inoneword,forexploitation,veiledbyreligiousandpoliticalillusions,ithassubstitutednaked,shameless,direct,brutalexploitation.

Thebourgeoisiehasstrippedofitshaloeveryoccupationhithertohonoredandlookeduptowithreverentawe.Ithasconvertedthephysician,thelawyer,thepriest,thepoet,themanofscience,intoitspaidwagelaborers.

Thebourgeoisiehastornawayfromthefamilyitssentimentalveil,andhasreducedthefamilyrelationintoameremoneyrelation.

ThebourgeoisiehasdisclosedhowitcametopassthatthebrutaldisplayofvigorintheMiddleAges,whichreactionariessomuchadmire,founditsfittingcomplementin

themostslothfulindolence.Ithasbeenthefirsttoshowwhatman'sactivitycanbringabout.IthasaccomplishedwondersfarsurpassingEgyptianpyramids,Roman

aqueducts,andGothiccathedrals;ithasconductedexpeditionsthatputintheshadeallformerexodusesofnationsandcrusades.

Thebourgeoisiecannotexistwithoutconstantlyrevolutionizingtheinstrumentsofproduction,andtherebytherelationsofproduction,andwiththemthewholerelationsofsociety.Conservationoftheoldmodesofproductioninunalteredform,was,onthecontrary,thefirstconditionofexistenceforallearlierindustrialclasses.Constantrevolutionizingofproduction,uninterrupteddisturbanceofallsocialconditions,everlastinguncertaintyandagitationdistinguishthebourgeoisepochfromallearlierones.Allfixed,fastfrozenrelations,withtheirtrainofancientandvenerableprejudicesandopinions,aresweptaway,allnew-formedonesbecomeantiquatedbeforetheycanossify.Allthatissolidmeltsintoair,allthatisholyisprofaned,andmanisatlastcompelledtofacewithsobersenseshisrealconditionoflifeandhisrelationswithhiskind.

Theneedofaconstantlyexpandingmarketforitsproductschasesthebourgeoisieovertheentiresurfaceoftheglobe.Itmustnestleeverywhere,settleeverywhere,establishconnectionseverywhere.

Thebourgeoisiehas,throughitsexploitationoftheworldmarket,givena

cosmopolitancharactertoproductionandconsumptionineverycountry.Tothegreatchagrinofreactionaries,ithasdrawnfromunderthefeetofindustrythenationalgroundonwhichitstood.Allold-establishednationalindustrieshavebeendestroyedoraredailybeingdestroyed.Theyaredislodgedbynewindustries,whose

introductionbecomesalifeanddeathquestionforallcivilizednations,byindustriesthatnolongerworkupindigenousrawmaterial,butrawmaterialdrawnfromtheremotestzones;industrieswhoseproductsareconsumed,notonlyathome,butineveryquarteroftheglobe.Inplaceoftheoldwants,satisfiedbytheproductionofthecountry,wefindnewwants,requiringfortheirsatisfactiontheproductsofdistantlandsandclimes.Inplaceoftheoldlocalandnationalseclusionandself-sufficiency,wehaveintercourseineverydirection,universalinter-dependenceofnations.Andasinmaterial,soalsoinintellectualproduction.Theintellectualcreationsofindividualnationsbecomecommonproperty.Nationalone-sidednessandnarrow-mindednessbecomemoreandmoreimpossible,andfromthenumerousnationalandlocalliteratures,therearisesaworldliterature.

Thebourgeoisie,bytherapidimprovementofallinstrumentsofproduction,bytheimmenselyfacilitatedmeansofcommunication,drawsall,eventhemostbarbarian,nationsintocivilization.Thecheappricesofcommoditiesaretheheavyartillerywithwhichitforcesthebarbarians'intenselyobstinatehatredofforeignerstocapitulate.Itcompelsallnations,onpainofextinction,toadoptthebourgeoismodeofproduction;

itcompelsthemtointroducewhatitcallscivilizationintotheirmidst,i.e.,tobecomebourgeoisthemselves.Inoneword,itcreatesaworldafteritsownimage.Thebourgeoisiehassubjectedthecountrytotheruleofthetowns.Ithascreatedenormouscities,hasgreatlyincreasedtheurbanpopulationascomparedwiththerural,andhasthusrescuedaconsiderablepartofthepopulationfromtheidiocyofrurallife.Justasithasmadethecountrydependentonthetowns,soithasmadebarbarianandsemi-barbariancountriesdependentonthecivilizedones,nationsofpeasantsonnationsofbourgeois,theEastontheWest.

Thebourgeoisiekeepsmoreandmoredoingawaywiththescatteredstateofthepopulation,ofthemeansofproduction,andofproperty.Ithasagglomerated

population,centralizedthemeansofproduction,andhasconcentratedpropertyinafewhands.Thenecessaryconsequenceofthiswaspoliticalcentralization.Independent,orbutlooselyconnectedprovinces,withseparateinterests,laws,

governments,andsystemsoftaxation,becamelumpedtogetherintoonenation,withonegovernment,onecodeoflaws,onenationalclassinterest,onefrontier,andonecustomstariff.

Thebourgeoisie,duringitsruleofscarceonehundredyears,hascreatedmoremassiveandmorecolossalproductiveforcesthanhaveallprecedinggenerationstogether.Subjectionofnature'sforcestoman,machinery,applicationofchemistrytoindustryandagriculture,steamnavigation,railways,electrictelegraphs,clearingofwholecontinentsforcultivation,canalizationorrivers,wholepopulationsconjuredoutoftheground--whatearliercenturyhadevenapresentimentthatsuchproductiveforcesslumberedinthelapofsociallabor?

Weseethen:themeansofproductionandofexchange,onwhosefoundationthebourgeoisiebuiltitselfup,weregeneratedinfeudalsociety.Atacertainstageinthedevelopmentofthesemeansofproductionandofexchange,theconditionsunderwhichfeudalsocietyproducedandexchanged,thefeudalorganizationofagricultureandmanufacturingindustry,inoneword,thefeudalrelationsofpropertybecamenolongercompatiblewiththealreadydevelopedproductiveforces;theybecamesomanyfetters.Theyhadtobeburstasunder;theywereburstasunder.

Intotheirplacesteppedfreecompetition,accompaniedbyasocialandpolitical

constitutionadaptedinit,andtheeconomicandpoliticalswayofthebourgeoisclass.Asimilarmovementisgoingonbeforeourowneyes.Modernbourgeoissociety,withitsrelationsofproduction,ofexchangeandofproperty,asocietythathasconjuredupsuchgiganticmeansofproductionandofexchange,islikethesorcererwhoisnolongerabletocontrolthepowersofthenetherworldwhomhehascalledupbyhisspells.Formanyadecadepast,thehistoryofindustryandcommerceisbutthehistoryoftherevoltofmodernproductiveforcesagainstmodernconditionsof

production,againstthepropertyrelationsthataretheconditionsfortheexistenceofthebourgeoisandofitsrule.Itisenoughtomentionthecommercialcrisesthat,bytheirperiodicalreturn,puttheexistenceoftheentirebourgeoissocietyonitstrial,eachtimemorethreateningly.Inthesecrises,agreatpartnotonlyoftheexistingproducts,butalsoofthepreviouslycreatedproductiveforces,areperiodicallydestroyed.Inthesecrises,therebreaksoutanepidemicthat,inallearlierepochs,

wouldhaveseemedanabsurdity--theepidemicofover-production.Societysuddenlyfindsitselfputbackintoastateofmomentarybarbarism;itappearsasifafamine,auniversalwarofdevastation,hadcutoffthesupplyofeverymeansofsubsistence;industryandcommerceseemtobedestroyed.Andwhy?Becausethereistoomuchcivilization,toomuchmeansofsubsistence,toomuchindustry,toomuchcommerce.Theproductiveforcesatthedisposalofsocietynolongertendtofurtherthedevelopmentoftheconditionsofbourgeoisproperty;onthecontrary,theyhavebecometoopowerfulfortheseconditions,bywhichtheyarefettered,andsosoonastheyovercomethesefetters,theybringdisorderintothewholeofbourgeoissociety,endangertheexistenceofbourgeoisproperty.Theconditionsofbourgeoissocietyaretoonarrowtocomprisethewealthcreatedbythem.Andhowdoesthebourgeoisiegetoverthesecrises?Ontheonehand,byenforceddestructionofamassofproductiveforces;ontheother,bytheconquestofnewmarkets,andbythemorethorough

exploitationoftheoldones.Thatistosay,bypavingthewayformoreextensiveandmoredestructivecrises,andbydiminishingthemeanswherebycrisesareprevented.Theweaponswithwhichthebourgeoisiefelledfeudalismtothegroundarenowturnedagainstthebourgeoisieitself.

Butnotonlyhasthebourgeoisieforgedtheweaponsthatbringdeathtoitself;ithasalsocalledintoexistencethemenwhoaretowieldthoseweapons--themodernworkingclass--theproletarians.

Inproportionasthebourgeoisie,i.e.,capital,isdeveloped,inthesameproportionistheproletariat,themodernworkingclass,developed--aclassoflaborers,wholiveonlysolongastheyfindwork,andwhofindworkonlysolongastheirlaborincreasescapital.Theselaborers,whomustsellthemselvespiecemeal,area

commodity,likeeveryotherarticleofcommerce,andareconsequentlyexposedtoallthevicissitudesofcompetition,toallthefluctuationsofthemarket.

Owingtotheextensiveuseofmachinery,andtothedivisionoflabor,theworkoftheproletarianshaslostallindividualcharacter,and,consequently,allcharmfortheworkman.Hebecomesanappendageofthemachine,anditisonlythemostsimple,mostmonotonous,andmosteasilyacquiredknack,thatisrequiredofhim.Hence,thecostofproductionofaworkmanisrestricted,almostentirely,tothemeansof

subsistencethatherequiresformaintenance,andforthepropagationofhisrace.Butthepriceofacommodity,andthereforealsooflabor,isequaltoitscostofproduction.Inproportion,therefore,astherepulsivenessoftheworkincreases,thewage

decreases.Whatismore,inproportionastheuseofmachineryanddivisionoflaborincreases,inthesameproportiontheburdenoftoilalsoincreases,whetherby

prolongationoftheworkinghours,bytheincreaseoftheworkexactedinagiventime,orbyincreasedspeedofmachinery,etc.

ModernIndustryhasconvertedthelittleworkshopofthepatriarchalmasterintothegreatfactoryoftheindustrialcapitalist.Massesoflaborers,crowdedintothefactory,areorganizedlikesoldiers.Asprivatesoftheindustrialarmy,theyareplacedunderthecommandofaperfecthierarchyofofficersandsergeants.Notonlyaretheyslavesofthebourgeoisclass,andofthebourgeoisstate;theyaredailyandhourlyenslavedbythemachine,bytheoverlooker,and,aboveall,intheindividualbourgeois

manufacturerhimself.Themoreopenlythisdespotismproclaimsgaintobeitsendandaim,themorepetty,themorehatefulandthemoreembitteringitis.

Thelesstheskillandexertionofstrengthimpliedinmanuallabor,inotherwords,themoremodernindustrybecomesdeveloped,themoreisthelaborofmensupersededbythatofwomen.Differencesofageandsexhavenolongeranydistinctivesocialvalidityfortheworkingclass.Allareinstrumentsoflabor,moreorlessexpensivetouse,accordingtotheirageandsex.

Nosooneristheexploitationofthelaborerbythemanufacturer,sofaratanend,thathereceiveshiswagesincash,thanheissetuponbytheotherportionofthebourgeoisie,thelandlord,theshopkeeper,thepawnbroker,etc.

Thelowerstrataofthemiddleclass--thesmalltradespeople,shopkeepers,andretiredtradesmengenerally,thehandicraftsmenandpeasants--allthesesink

graduallyintotheproletariat,partlybecausetheirdiminutivecapitaldoesnotsufficeforthescaleonwhichModernIndustryiscarriedon,andisswampedinthe

competitionwiththelargecapitalists,partlybecausetheirspecializedskillisrenderedworthlessbynewmethodsofproduction.Thus,theproletariatisrecruitedfromallclassesofthepopulation.

Theproletariatgoesthroughvariousstagesofdevelopment.Withitsbirthbeginsitsstrugglewiththebourgeoisie.Atfirst,thecontestiscarriedonbyindividuallaborers,thenbytheworkofpeopleofafactory,thenbytheoperativeofonetrade,inonelocality,againsttheindividualbourgeoiswhodirectlyexploitsthem.Theydirecttheirattacksnotagainstthebourgeoisconditionofproduction,butagainsttheinstrumentsofproductionthemselves;theydestroyimportedwaresthatcompetewiththeirlabor,theysmashtopiecesmachinery,theysetfactoriesablaze,theyseektorestorebyforcethevanishedstatusoftheworkmanoftheMiddleAges.

Atthisstage,thelaborersstillformanincoherentmassscatteredoverthewholecountry,andbrokenupbytheirmutualcompetition.Ifanywheretheyunitetoformmorecompactbodies,thisisnotyettheconsequenceoftheirownactiveunion,butof

theunionofthebourgeoisie,whichclass,inordertoattainitsownpoliticalends,iscompelledtosetthewholeproletariatinmotion,andismoreoveryet,foratime,abletodoso.Atthisstage,therefore,theproletariansdonotfighttheirenemies,buttheenemiesoftheirenemies,theremnantsofabsolutemonarchy,thelandowners,thenon-industrialbourgeois,thepettybourgeois.Thus,thewholehistoricalmovementisconcentratedinthehandsofthebourgeoisie;everyvictorysoobtainedisavictoryforthebourgeoisie.

Butwiththedevelopmentofindustry,theproletariatnotonlyincreasesinnumber;itbecomesconcentratedingreatermasses,itsstrengthgrows,anditfeelsthatstrengthmore.Thevariousinterestsandconditionsoflifewithintheranksoftheproletariataremoreandmoreequalized,inproportionasmachineryobliteratesalldistinctionsoflabor,andnearlyeverywherereduceswagestothesamelowlevel.Thegrowingcompetitionamongthebourgeois,andtheresultingcommercialcrises,makethewagesoftheworkersevermorefluctuating.Theincreasingimprovementofmachinery,evermorerapidlydeveloping,makestheirlivelihoodmoreandmoreprecarious;thecollisionsbetweenindividualworkmenandindividualbourgeoistakemoreandmorethecharacterofcollisionsbetweentwoclasses.Thereupon,theworkersbegintoformcombinations(tradeunions)againstthebourgeois;theyclubtogetherinordertokeepuptherateofwages;theyfoundpermanentassociationsinordertomakeprovisionbeforehandfortheseoccasionalrevolts.Hereandthere,thecontestbreaksoutintoriots.

Nowandthentheworkersarevictorious,butonlyforatime.Therealfruitoftheirbattleslienotintheimmediateresult,butintheeverexpandingunionoftheworkers.ThisunionishelpedonbytheimprovedmeansofcommunicationthatarecreatedbyModernIndustry,andthatplacetheworkersofdifferentlocalitiesincontactwithoneanother.Itwasjustthiscontactthatwasneededtocentralizethenumerouslocalstruggles,allofthesamecharacter,intoonenationalstrugglebetweenclasses.Buteveryclassstruggleisapoliticalstruggle.Andthatunion,toattainwhichthe

burghersoftheMiddleAges,withtheirmiserablehighways,requiredcenturies,themodernproletarian,thankstorailways,achieveinafewyears.

Thisorganizationoftheproletariansintoaclass,and,consequently,intoapoliticalparty,iscontinuallybeingupsetagainbythecompetitionbetweentheworkersthemselves.Butiteverrisesupagain,stronger,firmer,mightier.Itcompels

legislativerecognitionofparticularinterestsoftheworkers,bytakingadvantageofthedivisionsamongthebourgeoisieitself.Thus,theTen-HoursBillinEnglandwascarried.

Altogether,collisionsbetweentheclassesoftheoldsocietyfurtherinmanywaysthecourseofdevelopmentoftheproletariat.Thebourgeoisiefindsitselfinvolvedinaconstantbattle.Atfirstwiththearistocracy;lateron,withthoseportionsofthebourgeoisieitself,whoseinterestshavebecomeantagonistictotheprogressof

industry;atalltimewiththebourgeoisieofforeigncountries.Inallthesebattles,itseesitselfcompelledtoappealtotheproletariat,toaskforhelp,andthustodragitintothepoliticalarena.Thebourgeoisieitself,therefore,suppliestheproletariatwithitsownelementsofpoliticalandgeneraleducation,inotherwords,itfurnishestheproletariatwithweaponsforfightingthebourgeoisie.

Further,aswehavealreadyseen,entiresectionsoftherulingclassare,bythe

advanceofindustry,precipitatedintotheproletariat,orareatleastthreatenedintheirconditionsofexistence.Thesealsosupplytheproletariatwithfreshelementsofenlightenmentandprogress.

Finally,intimeswhentheclassstrugglenearsthedecisivehour,theprogressofdissolutiongoingonwithintherulingclass,infactwithinthewholerangeofoldsociety,assumessuchaviolent,glaringcharacter,thatasmallsectionoftherulingclasscutsitselfadrift,andjoinstherevolutionaryclass,theclassthatholdsthefutureinitshands.Justas,therefore,atanearlierperiod,asectionofthenobilitywentovertothebourgeoisie,sonowaportionofthebourgeoisiegoesovertotheproletariat,andinparticular,aportionofthebourgeoisideologists,whohaveraisedthemselvestothelevelofcomprehendingtheoreticallythehistoricalmovementasawhole.Ofalltheclassesthatstandfacetofacewiththebourgeoisietoday,theproletariataloneisagenuinelyrevolutionaryclass.TheotherclassesdecayandfinallydisappearinthefaceofModernIndustry;theproletariatisitsspecialandessentialproduct.Thelowermiddleclass,thesmallmanufacturer,theshopkeeper,theartisan,the

peasant,allthesefightagainstthebourgeoisie,tosavefromextinctiontheirexistenceasfractionsofthemiddleclass.Theyarethereforenotrevolutionary,butconservative.Nay,more,theyarereactionary,fortheytrytorollbackthewheelofhistory.If,bychance,theyarerevolutionary,theyareonlysoinviewoftheirimpendingtransferintotheproletariat;theythusdefendnottheirpresent,buttheirfutureinterests;theydeserttheirownstandpointtoplacethemselvesatthatoftheproletariat.

The\"dangerousclasshesocialscum,thatpassivelyrottingmassthrownoffbythelowestlayersoftheoldsociety,may,hereandthere,besweptintothemovementbyaproletarianrevolution;itsconditionsoflife,however,prepareitfarmoreforthepartofabribedtoolofreactionaryintrigue.

Intheconditionoftheproletariat,thoseofoldsocietyatlargearealreadyvirtuallyswamped.Theproletarianiswithoutproperty;hisrelationtohiswifeandchildrenhasnolongeranythingincommonwiththebourgeoisfamilyrelations;modernindustrylabor,modernsubjectiontocapital,thesameinEnglandasinFrance,inAmericaasinGermany,hasstrippedhimofeverytraceofnationalcharacter.Law,morality,religion,aretohimsomanybourgeoisprejudices,behindwhichlurkinambushjustasmanybourgeoisinterests.

Alltheprecedingclassesthatgottheupperhandsoughttofortifytheiralready

acquiredstatusbysubjectingsocietyatlargetotheirconditionsofappropriation.Theproletarianscannotbecomemastersoftheproductiveforcesofsociety,exceptbyabolishingtheirownpreviousmodeofappropriation,andtherebyalsoeveryotherpreviousmodeofappropriation.Theyhavenothingoftheirowntosecureandtofortify;theirmissionistodestroyallprevioussecuritiesfor,andinsurancesof,individualproperty.

Allprevioushistoricalmovementsweremovementsofminorities,orintheinterestofminorities.Theproletarianmovementistheself-conscious,independentmovementoftheimmensemajority,intheinterestoftheimmensemajority.Theproletariat,theloweststratumofourpresentsociety,cannotstir,cannotraiseitselfup,withoutthewholesuperincumbentstrataofofficialsocietybeingsprungintotheair.Thoughnotinsubstance,yetinform,thestruggleoftheproletariatwiththe

bourgeoisieisatfirstanationalstruggle.Theproletariatofeachcountrymust,ofcourse,firstofallsettlematterswithitsownbourgeoisie.

Indepictingthemostgeneralphasesofthedevelopmentoftheproletariat,wetracedthemoreorlessveiledcivilwar,ragingwithinexistingsociety,uptothepointwherethatwarbreaksoutintoopenrevolution,andwheretheviolentoverthrowofthebourgeoisielaysthefoundationfortheswayoftheproletariat.

Hitherto,everyformofsocietyhasbeenbased,aswehavealreadyseen,ontheantagonismofoppressingandoppressedclasses.Butinordertooppressaclass,certainconditionsmustbeassuredtoitunderwhichitcan,atleast,continueits

slavishexistence.Theserf,intheperiodofserfdom,raisedhimselftomembershipinthecommune,justasthepettybourgeois,undertheyokeofthefeudalabsolutism,managedtodevelopintoabourgeois.Themodernlaborer,onthecontrary,insteadofrisingwiththeprocessofindustry,sinksdeeperanddeeperbelowtheconditionsofexistenceofhisownclass.Hebecomesapauper,andpauperismdevelopsmore

rapidlythanpopulationandwealth.Andhereitbecomesevidentthatthebourgeoisieisunfitanylongertobetherulingclassinsociety,andtoimposeitsconditionsofexistenceuponsocietyasanoverridinglaw.Itisunfittorulebecauseitis

incompetenttoassureanexistencetoitsslavewithinhisslavery,becauseitcannothelplettinghimsinkintosuchastate,thatithastofeedhim,insteadofbeingfedbyhim.Societycannolongerliveunderthisbourgeoisie,inotherwords,itsexistenceisnolongercompatiblewithsociety.

Theessentialconditionsfortheexistenceandfortheswayofthebourgeoisclassistheformationandaugmentationofcapital;theconditionforcapitaliswagelabor.Wagelaborrestsexclusivelyoncompetitionbetweenthelaborers.Theadvanceofindustry,whoseinvoluntarypromoteristhebourgeoisie,replacestheisolationofthelaborers,duetocompetition,bytherevolutionarycombination,duetoassociation.

ThedevelopmentofModernIndustry,therefore,cutsfromunderitsfeettheveryfoundationonwhichthebourgeoisieproducesandappropriatesproducts.Whatthebourgeoisiethereforeproduces,aboveall,areitsowngrave-diggers.Itsfallandthevictoryoftheproletariatareequallyinevitable.

II--PROLETARIANSANDCOMMUNISTS

InwhatrelationdotheCommunistsstandtotheproletariansasawhole?The

Communistsdonotformaseparatepartyopposedtotheotherworking-classparties.Theyhavenointerestsseparateandapartfromthoseoftheproletariatasawhole.Theydonotsetupanysectarianprinciplesoftheirown,bywhichtoshapeandmoldtheproletarianmovement.

TheCommunistsaredistinguishedfromtheotherworking-classpartiesbythisonly:(1)Inthenationalstrugglesoftheproletariansofthedifferentcountries,theypoint

outandbringtothefrontthecommoninterestsoftheentireproletariat,independentlyofallnationality.(2)Inthevariousstagesofdevelopmentwhichthestruggleoftheworkingclass

againstthebourgeoisiehastopassthrough,theyalwaysandeverywhererepresenttheinterestsofthemovementasawhole.

TheCommunists,therefore,areontheonehandpractically,themostadvancedandresolutesectionoftheworking-classpartiesofeverycountry,thatsectionwhichpushesforwardallothers;ontheotherhand,theoretically,theyhaveoverthegreatmassoftheproletariattheadvantageofclearlyunderstandingthelinesofmarch,theconditions,andtheultimategeneralresultsoftheproletarianmovement.TheimmediateaimoftheCommunistsisthesameasthatofallotherproletarianparties:Formationoftheproletariatintoaclass,overthrowofthebourgeoissupremacy,conquestofpoliticalpowerbytheproletariat.

ThetheoreticalconclusionsoftheCommunistsareinnowaybasedonideasorprinciplesthathavebeeninvented,ordiscovered,bythisorthatwould-beuniversalreformer.

Theymerelyexpress,ingeneralterms,actualrelationsspringingfromanexistingclassstruggle,fromahistoricalmovementgoingonunderourveryeyes.The

abolitionofexistingpropertyrelationsisnotatalladistinctivefeatureofcommunism.

Allpropertyrelationsinthepasthavecontinuallybeensubjecttohistoricalchangeconsequentuponthechangeinhistoricalconditions.

TheFrenchRevolution,forexample,abolishedfeudalpropertyinfavorofbourgeoisproperty.

Thedistinguishingfeatureofcommunismisnottheabolitionofpropertygenerally,buttheabolitionofbourgeoisproperty.Butmodernbourgeoisprivatepropertyisthefinalandmostcompleteexpressionofthesystemofproducingandappropriatingproductsthatisbasedonclassantagonisms,ontheexploitationofthemanybythefew.

Inthissense,thetheoryoftheCommunistsmaybesummedupinthesinglesentence:Abolitionofprivateproperty.

WeCommunistshavebeenreproachedwiththedesireofabolishingtherightofpersonallyacquiringpropertyasthefruitofaman'sownlabor,whichpropertyisallegedtobethegroundworkofallpersonalfreedom,activityandindependence.Hard-won,self-acquired,self-earnedproperty!Doyoumeanthepropertyofpettyartisanandofthesmallpeasant,aformofpropertythatprecededthebourgeoisform?Thereisnoneedtoabolishthat;thedevelopmentofindustryhastoagreatextentalreadydestroyedit,andisstilldestroyingitdaily.Ordoyoumeanthemodernbourgeoisprivateproperty?

Butdoeswagelaborcreateanypropertyforthelaborer?Notabit.Itcreatescapital,i.e.,thatkindofpropertywhichexploitswagelabor,andwhichcannotincrease

exceptuponconditionsofbegettinganewsupplyofwagelaborforfreshexploitation.Property,initspresentform,isbasedontheantagonismofcapitalandwagelabor.Letusexaminebothsidesofthisantagonism.

Tobeacapitalist,istohavenotonlyapurelypersonal,butasocialSTATUSinproduction.Capitalisacollectiveproduct,andonlybytheunitedactionofmanymembers,nay,inthelastresort,onlybytheunitedactionofallmembersofsociety,canitbesetinmotion.

Capitalisthereforenotonlypersonal;itisasocialpower.

When,therefore,capitalisconvertedintocommonproperty,intothepropertyofallmembersofsociety,personalpropertyisnottherebytransformedintosocialproperty.Itisonlythesocialcharacterofthepropertythatischanged.Itlosesitsclasscharacter.

Letusnowtakewagelabor.

Theaveragepriceofwagelaboristheminimumwage,i.e.,thatquantumofthemeansofsubsistencewhichisabsolutelyrequisitetokeepthelaborerinbare

existenceasalaborer.What,therefore,thewagelaborerappropriatesbymeansofhislabormerelysufficestoprolongandreproduceabareexistence.Webynomeansintendtoabolishthispersonalappropriationoftheproductsoflabor,anappropriationthatismadeforthemaintenanceandreproductionofhumanlife,andthatleavesnosurpluswherewithtocommandthelaborofothers.Allthatwewanttodoawaywithisthemiserablecharacterofthisappropriation,underwhichthelaborerlivesmerelytoincreasecapital,andisallowedtoliveonlyinsofarastheinterestoftherulingclassrequiresit.

Inbourgeoissociety,livinglaborisbutameanstoincreaseaccumulatedlabor.Incommunistsociety,accumulatedlaborisbutameanstowiden,toenrich,topromotetheexistenceofthelaborer.

Inbourgeoissociety,therefore,thepastdominatesthepresent;incommunistsociety,thepresentdominatesthepast.Inbourgeoissociety,capitalisindependentandhasindividuality,whilethelivingpersonisdependentandhasnoindividuality.Andtheabolitionofthisstateofthingsiscalledbythebourgeois,abolitionof

individualityandfreedom!Andrightlyso.Theabolitionofbourgeoisindividuality,bourgeoisindependence,andbourgeoisfreedomisundoubtedlyaimedat.

Byfreedomismeant,underthepresentbourgeoisconditionsofproduction,freetrade,freesellingandbuying.

Butifsellingandbuyingdisappears,freesellingandbuyingdisappearsalso.Thistalkaboutfreesellingandbuying,andalltheother\"bravewords\"ofourbourgeoisaboutfreedomingeneral,haveameaning,ifany,onlyincontrastwithrestrictedsellingandbuying,withthefetteredtradersoftheMiddleAges,buthavenomeaningwhen

opposedtothecommunistabolitionofbuyingandselling,orthebourgeoisconditionsofproduction,andofthebourgeoisieitself.

Youarehorrifiedatourintendingtodoawaywithprivateproperty.Butinyourexistingsociety,privatepropertyisalreadydoneawaywithfornine-tenthsofthepopulation;itsexistenceforthefewissolelyduetoitsnon-existenceinthehandsofthosenine-tenths.Youreproachus,therefore,withintendingtodoawaywithaformofproperty,thenecessaryconditionforwhoseexistenceisthenon-existenceofanypropertyfortheimmensemajorityofsociety.

Inoneword,youreproachuswithintendingtodoawaywithyourproperty.Preciselyso;thatisjustwhatweintend.

Fromthemomentwhenlaborcannolongerbeconvertedintocapital,money,orrent,intoasocialpowercapableofbeingmonopolized,i.e.,fromthemomentwhen

individualpropertycannolongerbetransformedintobourgeoisproperty,intocapital,fromthatmoment,yousay,individualityvanishes.

Youmust,therefore,confessthatby\"individual\"youmeannootherpersonthanthebourgeois,thanthemiddle-classownerofproperty.Thispersonmust,indeed,besweptoutoftheway,andmadeimpossible.

Communismdeprivesnomanofthepowertoappropriatetheproductsofsociety;allthatitdoesistodeprivehimofthepowertosubjugatethelaborofothersbymeansofsuchappropriations.

Ithasbeenobjectedthatupontheabolitionofprivateproperty,allworkwillcease,anduniversallazinesswillovertakeus.

Accordingtothis,bourgeoissocietyoughtlongagotohavegonetothedogsthroughsheeridleness;forthosewhoacquireanything,donotwork.Thewholeofthis

objectionisbutanotherexpressionofthetautology:Therecannolongerbeanywagelaborwhenthereisnolongeranycapital.

Allobjectionsurgedagainstthecommunisticmodeofproducingandappropriatingmaterialproducts,have,inthesameway,beenurgedagainstthecommunisticmodeofproducingandappropriatingintellectualproducts.Justastothebourgeois,thedisappearanceofclasspropertyisthedisappearanceofproductionitself,sothe

disappearanceofclasscultureistohimidenticalwiththedisappearanceofallculture.Thatculture,thelossofwhichhelaments,is,fortheenormousmajority,ameretrainingtoactasamachine.

Butdon'twranglewithussolongasyouapply,toourintendedabolitionofbourgeoisproperty,thestandardofyourbourgeoisnotionsoffreedom,culture,law,etc.Yourveryideasarebuttheoutgrowthoftheconditionsofyourbourgeoisproductionandbourgeoisproperty,justasyourjurisprudenceisbutthewillofyourclassmadeintoalawforall,awillwhoseessentialcharacteranddirectionaredeterminedbytheeconomicalconditionsofexistenceofyourclass.

Theselfishmisconceptionthatinducesyoutotransformintoeternallawsofnatureandofreasonthesocialformsstringingfromyourpresentmodeofproductionandformofproperty--historicalrelationsthatriseanddisappearintheprogressofproduction--thismisconceptionyousharewitheveryrulingclassthathasprecededyou.Whatyouseeclearlyinthecaseofancientproperty,whatyouadmitinthecase

offeudalproperty,youareofcourseforbiddentoadmitinthecaseofyourownbourgeoisformofproperty.

Abolitionofthefamily!EventhemostradicalflareupatthisinfamousproposaloftheCommunists.

Onwhatfoundationisthepresentfamily,thebourgeoisfamily,based?Oncapital,onprivategain.Initscompletelydevelopedform,thisfamilyexistsonlyamongthebourgeoisie.Butthisstateofthingsfindsitscomplementinthepracticalabsenceofthefamilyamongproletarians,andinpublicprostitution.

Thebourgeoisfamilywillvanishasamatterofcoursewhenitscomplementvanishes,andbothwillvanishwiththevanishingofcapital.

Doyouchargeuswithwantingtostoptheexploitationofchildrenbytheirparents?Tothiscrimewepleadguilty.

But,yousay,wedestroythemosthallowedofrelations,whenwereplacehomeeducationbysocial.

Andyoureducation!Isnotthatalsosocial,anddeterminedbythesocialconditionsunderwhichyoueducate,bytheinterventiondirectorindirect,ofsociety,bymeansofschools,etc.?TheCommunistshavenotintendedtheinterventionofsocietyineducation;theydobutseektoalterthecharacterofthatintervention,andtorescueeducationfromtheinfluenceoftherulingclass.

Thebourgeoisclaptrapaboutthefamilyandeducation,aboutthehallowedcorrelationofparentsandchild,becomesallthemoredisgusting,themore,bytheactionof

ModernIndustry,allthefamilytiesamongtheproletariansaretornasunder,andtheirchildrentransformedintosimplearticlesofcommerceandinstrumentsoflabor.ButyouCommunistswouldintroducecommunityofwomen,screamsthebourgeoisieinchorus.

Thebourgeoisseeshiswifeamereinstrumentofproduction.Hehearsthatthe

instrumentsofproductionaretobeexploitedincommon,and,naturally,cancometonootherconclusionthatthelotofbeingcommontoallwilllikewisefalltothewomen.

Hehasnotevenasuspicionthattherealpointaimedatistodoawaywiththestatusofwomenasmereinstrumentsofproduction.

Fortherest,nothingismoreridiculousthanthevirtuousindignationofourbourgeoisatthecommunityofwomenwhich,theypretend,istobeopenlyandofficially

establishedbytheCommunists.TheCommunistshavenoneedtointroducefreelove;ithasexistedalmostfromtimeimmemorial.

Ourbourgeois,notcontentwithhavingwivesanddaughtersoftheirproletariansattheirdisposal,nottospeakofcommonprostitutes,takethegreatestpleasureinseducingeachother'swives.(Ah,thosewerethedays!)

Bourgeoismarriageis,inreality,asystemofwivesincommonandthus,atthemost,whattheCommunistsmightpossiblybereproachedwithisthattheydesireto

introduce,insubstitutionforahypocriticallyconcealed,anopenlylegalizedsystemoffreelove.Fortherest,itisself-evidentthattheabolitionofthepresentsystemof

productionmustbringwithittheabolitionoffreelovespringingfromthatsystem,i.e.,ofprostitutionbothpublicandprivate.

TheCommunistsarefurtherreproachedwithdesiringtoabolishcountriesandnationality.

Theworkershavenocountry.Wecannottakefromthemwhattheyhavenotgot.Sincetheproletariatmustfirstofallacquirepoliticalsupremacy,mustrisetobetheleadingclassofthenation,mustconstituteitselfthenation,itis,sofar,itselfnational,thoughnotinthebourgeoissenseoftheword.

Nationaldifferencesandantagonismbetweenpeoplesaredailymoreandmore

vanishing,owingtothedevelopmentofthebourgeoisie,tofreedomofcommerce,totheworldmarket,touniformityinthemodeofproductionandintheconditionsoflifecorrespondingthereto.

Thesupremacyoftheproletariatwillcausethemtovanishstillfaster.Unitedactionoftheleadingcivilizedcountriesatleastisoneofthefirstconditionsfortheemancipationoftheproletariat.

Inproportionastheexploitationofoneindividualbyanotherwillalsobeputanendto,theexploitationofonenationbyanotherwillalsobeputanendto.Inproportionastheantagonismbetweenclasseswithinthenationvanishes,thehostilityofonenationtoanotherwillcometoanend.

Thechargesagainstcommunismmadefromareligious,aphilosophicaland,

generally,fromanideologicalstandpoint,arenotdeservingofseriousexamination.Doesitrequiredeepintuitiontocomprehendthatman'sideas,views,andconception,inoneword,man'sconsciousness,changeswitheverychangeintheconditionsofhismaterialexistence,inhissocialrelationsandinhissociallife?

Whatelsedoesthehistoryofideasprove,thanthatintellectualproductionchangesitscharacterinproportionasmaterialproductionischanged?Therulingideasofeachagehaveeverbeentheideasofitsrulingclass.

Whenpeoplespeakoftheideasthatrevolutionizesociety,theydobutexpressthatfactthatwithintheoldsocietytheelementsofanewonehavebeencreated,andthatthedissolutionoftheoldideaskeepsevenpacewiththedissolutionoftheoldconditionsofexistence.

Whentheancientworldwasinitslastthroes,theancientreligionswereovercomebyChristianity.WhenChristianideassuccumbedintheeighteenthcenturytorationalistideas,feudalsocietyfoughtitsdeathbattlewiththethenrevolutionarybourgeoisie.Theideasofreligiouslibertyandfreedomofconsciencemerelygaveexpressiontotheswayoffreecompetitionwithinthedomainofknowledge.

\"Undoubtedly,\"itwillbesaid,\"religious,moral,philosophical,andjuridicialideashavebeenmodifiedinthecourseofhistoricaldevelopment.Butreligion,morality,philosophy,politicalscience,andlaw,constantlysurvivedthischange.\"

\"Thereare,besides,eternaltruths,suchasFreedom,Justice,etc.,thatarecommontoallstatesofsociety.Butcommunismabolisheseternaltruths,itabolishesallreligion,andallmorality,insteadofconstitutingthemonanewbasis;itthereforeactsincontradictiontoallpasthistoricalexperience.\"

Whatdoesthisaccusationreduceitselfto?Thehistoryofallpastsocietyhasconsistedinthedevelopmentofclassantagonisms,antagonismsthatassumeddifferentformsatdifferentepochs.

Butwhateverformtheymayhavetaken,onefactiscommontoallpastages,viz.,theexploitationofonepartofsocietybytheother.Nowonder,then,thatthesocialconsciousnessofpastages,despiteallthemultiplicityandvarietyitdisplays,moveswithincertaincommonforms,orgeneralideas,whichcannotcompletelyvanishexceptwiththetotaldisappearanceofclassantagonisms.

Thecommunistrevolutionisthemostradicalrupturewithtraditionalrelations;nowonderthatitsdevelopmentinvolvedthemostradicalrupturewithtraditionalideas.Butletushavedonewiththebourgeoisobjectionstocommunism.

Wehaveseenabovethatthefirststepintherevolutionbytheworkingclassistoraisetheproletariattothepositionofrulingclasstowinthebattleofdemocracy.

Theproletariatwilluseitspoliticalsupremacytowrest,bydegree,allcapitalfromthebourgeoisie,tocentralizeallinstrumentsofproductioninthehandsofthestate,i.e.,oftheproletariatorganizedastherulingclass;andtoincreasethetotalproductiveforcesasrapidlyaspossible.

Ofcourse,inthebeginning,thiscannotbeeffectedexceptbymeansofdespoticinroadsontherightsofproperty,andontheconditionsofbourgeoisproduction;bymeansofmeasures,therefore,whichappeareconomicallyinsufficientanduntenable,butwhich,inthecourseofthemovement,outstripthemselves,necessitatefurtherinroadsupontheoldsocialorder,andareunavoidableasameansofentirelyrevolutionizingthemodeofproduction.

Thesemeasureswill,ofcourse,bedifferentindifferentcountries.

Nevertheless,inmostadvancedcountries,thefollowingwillbeprettygenerallyapplicable.

1.Abolitionofpropertyinlandandapplicationofallrentsoflandtopublicpurposes.2.Aheavyprogressiveorgraduatedincometax.3.Abolitionofallrightsofinheritance.

4.Confiscationofthepropertyofallemigrantsandrebels.5.Centralizationofcreditinthebanksofthestate,bymeansofanationalbankwithstatecapitalandanexclusivemonopoly.

6.Centralizationofthemeansofcommunicationandtransportinthehandsofthestate.

7.Extensionoffactoriesandinstrumentsofproductionownedbythestate;the

bringingintocultivationofwastelands,andtheimprovementofthesoilgenerallyinaccordancewithacommonplan.

8.Equalobligationofalltowork.Establishmentofindustrialarmies,especiallyforagriculture.

9.Combinationofagriculturewithmanufacturingindustries;gradualabolitionofallthedistinctionbetweentownandcountrybyamoreequabledistributionofthepopulaceoverthecountry.

10.Freeeducationforallchildreninpublicschools.Abolitionofchildren'sfactorylaborinitspresentform.Combinationofeducationwithindustrialproduction,etc.When,inthecourseofdevelopment,classdistinctionshavedisappeared,andallproductionhasbeenconcentratedinthehandsofavastassociationofthewholenation,thepublicpowerwillloseitspoliticalcharacter.Politicalpower,properlysocalled,ismerelytheorganizedpowerofoneclassforoppressinganother.Ifthe

proletariatduringitscontestwiththebourgeoisieiscompelled,bytheforceof

circumstances,toorganizeitselfasaclass;if,bymeansofarevolution,itmakesitselftherulingclass,and,assuch,sweepsawaybyforcetheoldconditionsofproduction,thenitwill,alongwiththeseconditions,havesweptawaytheconditionsfortheexistenceofclassantagonismsandofclassesgenerally,andwilltherebyhaveabolisheditsownsupremacyasaclass.

Inplaceoftheoldbourgeoissociety,withitsclassesandclassantagonisms,weshallhaveanassociationinwhichthefreedevelopmentofeachistheconditionforthefreedevelopmentofall.

III--SOCIALISTANDCOMMUNISTLITERATURE1.REACTIONARYSOCIALISMa.FeudalSocialism

Owingtotheirhistoricalposition,itbecamethevocationofthearistocraciesofFranceandEnglandtowritepamphletsagainstmodernbourgeoissociety.IntheFrenchRevolutionofJuly1830,andintheEnglishreformagitation,these

aristocraciesagainsuccumbedtothehatefulupstart.Thenceforth,aseriouspoliticalstrugglewasaltogetheroutofthequestion.Aliterarybattlealoneremainedpossible.Buteveninthedomainofliterature,theoldcriesoftherestorationperiodhadbecomeimpossible.[1]

Inordertoarousesympathy,thearistocracywasobligedtolosesight,apparently,ofitsowninterests,andtoformulateitsindictmentagainstthebourgeoisieintheinterestoftheexploitedworkingclassalone.Thus,thearistocracytooktheirrevengebysinginglampoonsontheirnewmastersandwhisperinginhisearssinisterprophesiesofcomingcatastrophe.

Inthiswayarosefeudalsocialism:halflamentation,halflampoon;halfanechoofthepast,halfmenaceofthefuture;attimes,byitsbitter,wittyandincisivecriticism,strikingthebourgeoisietotheveryheart'score,butalwaysludicrousinitseffect,throughtotalincapacitytocomprehendthemarchofmodernhistory.

Thearistocracy,inordertorallythepeopletothem,wavedtheproletarianalms-baginfrontforabanner.Butthepeople,sooftenasitjoinedthem,sawontheirhindquarterstheoldfeudalcoatsofarms,anddesertedwithloudandirreverentlaughter.

OnesectionoftheFrenchLegitimistsand\"YoungEngland\"exhibitedthisspectacle:

Inpointingoutthattheirmodeofexploitationwasdifferenttothatofthebourgeoisie,thefeudalistsforgetthattheyexploitedundercircumstancesandconditionsthatwerequitedifferentandthatarenowantiquated.Inshowingthat,undertheirrule,themodernproletariatneverexisted,theyforgetthatthemodernbourgeoisieisthenecessaryoffspringoftheirownformofsociety.

Fortherest,solittledotheyconcealthereactionarycharacteroftheircriticismthattheirchiefaccusationagainstthebourgeoisamountstothis:thatunderthebourgeoisregimeaclassisbeingdevelopedwhichisdestinedtocutup,rootandbranch,theoldorderofsociety.

Whattheyupbraidthebourgeoisiewithisnotsomuchthatitcreatesaproletariatasthatitcreatesa_revolutionary_proletariat.

Inpoliticalpractice,therefore,theyjoininallcorrectivemeasuresagainsttheworkingclass;andinordinarylife,despitetheirhighfalutin'phrases,theystooptopickupthegoldenapplesdroppedfromthetreeofindustry,andtobartertruth,love,andhonor,fortrafficinwool,beetroot-sugar,andpotatospirits.[2]

Astheparsonhasevergonehandinhandwiththelandlord,sohasclericalsocialismwithfeudalsocialism.

NothingiseasierthantogiveChristianasceticismasocialisttinge.Hasnot

Christianitydeclaimedagainstprivateproperty,againstmarriage,againstthestate?Hasitnotpreachedintheplaceofthese,charityandpoverty,celibacyand

mortificationoftheflesh,monasticlifeandMotherChurch?Christiansocialismisbuttheholywaterwithwhichthepriestconsecratestheheart-burningsofthearistocrat.

b.Petty-BourgeoisSocialism

Thefeudalaristocracywasnottheonlyclassthatwasruinedbythebourgeoisie,nottheonlyclasswhoseconditionsofexistencepinedandperishedintheatmosphereofmodernbourgeoissociety.Themedievalburgessesandthesmallpeasantproprietorsweretheprecursorsofthemodernbourgeoisie.Inthosecountrieswhicharebutlittledeveloped,industriallyandcommercially,thesetwoclassesstillvegetatesidebysidewiththerisingbourgeoisie.

Incountrieswheremoderncivilizationhasbecomefullydeveloped,anewclassofpettybourgeoishasbeenformed,fluctuatingbetweenproletariatandbourgeoisie,andeverrenewingitselfasupplementarypartofbourgeoissociety.Theindividual

membersofthisclass,however,asbeingconstantlyhurleddownintotheproletariatbytheactionofcompetition,and,asModernIndustrydevelops,theyevenseethemomentapproachingwhentheywillcompletelydisappearasanindependentsection

ofmodernsociety,tobereplacedinmanufactures,agricultureandcommerce,byoverlookers,bailiffsandshopmen.

IncountrieslikeFrance,wherethepeasantsconstitutefarmorethanhalfofthepopulation,itwasnaturalthatwriterswhosidedwiththeproletariatagainstthe

bourgeoisieshoulduse,intheircriticismofthebourgeoisregime,thestandardofthepeasantandpettybourgeois,andfromthestandpointoftheseintermediateclasses,shouldtakeupthecudgelsfortheworkingclass.Thusarosepetty-bourgeoissocialism.Sismondiwastheheadofthisschool,notonlyinFrancebutalsoinEngland.

Thisschoolofsocialismdissectedwithgreatacutenessthecontradictionsinthe

conditionsofmodernproduction.Itlaidbarethehypocriticalapologiesofeconomists.Itproved,incontrovertibly,thedisastrouseffectsofmachineryanddivisionoflabor;theconcentrationofcapitalandlandinafewhands;overproductionandcrises;itpointedouttheinevitableruinofthepettybourgeoisandpeasant,themiseryoftheproletariat,theanarchyinproduction,thecryinginequalitiesinthedistributionofwealth,theindustrialwarofexterminationbetweennations,thedissolutionofoldmoralbonds,oftheoldfamilyrelations,oftheoldnationalities.

Initpositiveaims,however,thisformofsocialismaspireseithertorestoringtheoldmeansofproductionandofexchange,andwiththemtheoldpropertyrelations,andtheoldsociety,ortocrampingthemodernmeansofproductionandofexchangewithintheframeworkoftheoldpropertyrelationsthathavebeen,andwereboundtobe,explodedbythosemeans.Ineithercase,itisbothreactionaryandUtopian.Itslastwordsare:corporateguildsformanufacture;patriarchalrelationsinagriculture.Ultimately,whenstubbornhistoricalfactshaddispersedallintoxicatingeffectsofself-deception,thisformofsocialismendedinamiserablehangover.

c.Germanor\"True\"Socialism

ThesocialistandcommunistliteratureofFrance,aliteraturethatoriginatedunderthepressureofabourgeoisieinpower,andthatwastheexpressionsofthestruggleagainstthispower,wasintroducedintoGermanyatatimewhenthebourgeoisieinthatcountryhadjustbegunitscontestwithfeudalabsolutism.

Germanphilosophers,would-bephilosophers,andbeauxesprits(menofletters),eagerlyseizedonthisliterature,onlyforgettingthatwhenthesewritingsimmigratedfromFranceintoGermany,Frenchsocialconditionshadnotimmigratedalongwiththem.IncontactwithGermansocialconditions,thisFrenchliteraturelostallitsimmediatepracticalsignificanceandassumedapurelyliteraryaspect.Thus,tothe

Germanphilosophersoftheeighteenthcentury,thedemandsofthefirstFrench

Revolutionwerenothingmorethanthedemandsof\"PracticalReason\"ingeneral,andtheutteranceofthewilloftherevolutionaryFrenchbourgeoisiesignified,intheireyes,thelawsofpurewill,ofwillasitwasboundtobe,oftruehumanwillgenerally.TheworkoftheGermanliteraticonsistedsolelyinbringingthenewFrenchideasintoharmonywiththeirancientphilosophicalconscience,orrather,inannexingtheFrenchideaswithoutdesertingtheirownphilosophicpointofview.Thisannexationtookplaceinthesamewayinwhichaforeignlanguageisappropriated,namely,bytranslation.

ItiswellknownhowthemonkswrotesillylivesofCatholicsaints_over_themanuscriptsonwhichtheclassicalworksofancientheathendomhadbeenwritten.TheGermanliteratireversedthisprocesswiththeprofaneFrenchliterature.TheywrotetheirphilosophicalnonsensebeneaththeFrenchoriginal.Forinstance,beneaththeFrenchcriticismoftheeconomicfunctionsofmoney,theywrote\"alienationofhumanity\andbeneaththeFrenchcriticismofthebourgeoisstatetheywrote\"dethronementofthecategoryofthegeneral\andsoforth.

TheintroductionofthesephilosophicalphrasesatthebackoftheFrenchhistoricalcriticisms,theydubbed\"PhilosophyofAction\\"TrueSocialism\\"GermanScienceofSocialism\\"PhilosophicalFoundationofSocialism\andsoon.

TheFrenchsocialistandcommunistliteraturewasthuscompletelyemasculated.And,sinceitceased,inthehandsoftheGerman,toexpressthestruggleofoneclasswiththeother,hefeltconsciousofhavingovercome\"Frenchone-sidedness\"andof

representing,nottruerequirements,buttherequirementsoftruth;nottheinterestsoftheproletariat,buttheinterestsofhumannature,ofmaningeneral,whobelongstonoclass,hasnoreality,whoexistsonlyinthemistyrealmofphilosophicalfantasy.ThisGermansocialism,whichtookitsschoolboytasksoseriouslyandsolemnly,andextolleditspoorstock-in-tradeinsuchamountebankfashion,meanwhilegraduallylostitspedanticinnocence.

ThefightoftheGermans,andespeciallyofthePrussianbourgeoisie,againstfeudalaristocracyandabsolutemonarchy,inotherwords,theliberalmovement,becamemoreearnest.

Bythis,thelong-wishedforopportunitywasofferedto\"True\"Socialismofconfrontingthepoliticalmovementwiththesocialisticdemands,ofhurlingthetraditionalanathemasagainstliberalism,againstrepresentativegovernment,againstbourgeoiscompetition,bourgeoisfreedomofthepress,bourgeoislegislation,

bourgeoislibertyandequality,andofpreachingtothemassesthattheyhadnothingto

gain,andeverythingtolose,bythisbourgeoismovement.Germansocialismforgot,inthenickoftime,thattheFrenchcriticism,whosesillyechoitwas,presupposedtheexistenceofmodernbourgeoissociety,withitscorrespondingeconomicconditionsofexistence,andthepoliticalconstitutionadaptedthereto,theverythingswhoseattainmentwastheobjectofthependingstruggleinGermany.

Totheabsolutegovernments,withtheirfollowingofparsons,professors,countrysquires,andofficials,itservedasawelcomescarecrowagainstthethreateningbourgeoisie.

Itwasasweetfinish,afterthebitterpillsoffloggingandbullets,withwhichthesesamegovernments,justatthattime,dosedtheGermanworking-classrisings.Whilethis\"True\"SocialismthusservedthegovernmentasaweaponforfightingtheGermanbourgeoisie,it,atthesametime,directlyrepresentedareactionaryinterest,theinterestofGermanphilistines.InGermany,thepetty-bourgeoisclass,arelicofthesixteenthcentury,andsincethenconstantlycroppingupagainunderthevariousforms,istherealsocialbasisoftheexistingstateofthings.

TopreservethisclassistopreservetheexistingstateofthingsinGermany.Theindustrialandpoliticalsupremacyofthebourgeoisiethreatensitwithcertain

destruction--ontheonehand,fromtheconcentrationofcapital;ontheother,fromtheriseofarevolutionaryproletariat.\"True\"Socialismappearedtokillthesetwobirdswithonestone.Itspreadlikeanepidemic.

Therobeofspeculativecobwebs,embroideredwithflowersofrhetoric,steepedinthedewofsicklysentiment,thistranscendentalrobeinwhichtheGermanSocialistswrappedtheirsorry\"eternaltruths\allskinandbone,servedtowonderfullyincreasethesaleoftheirgoodsamongstsuchapublic.AndonitspartGermansocialismrecognized,moreandmore,itsowncallingasthebombasticrepresentativeofthepetty-bourgeoisphilistine.

ItproclaimedtheGermannationtobethemodelnation,andtheGermanpettyphilistinetobethetypicalman.Toeveryvillainousmeannessofthismodelman,itgaveahidden,higher,socialisticinterpretation,theexactcontraryofitsrealcharacter.Itwenttotheextremelengthofdirectlyopposingthe\"brutallydestructive\"tendencyofcommunism,andofproclaimingitssupremeandimpartialcontemptofallclassstruggles.Withveryfewexceptions,alltheso-calledsocialistandcommunist

publicationsthatnow(1847)circulateinGermanybelongtothedomainofthisfoulandenervatingliterature.[3]

2.CONSERVATIVEORBOURGEOISSOCIALISM

Apartofthebourgeoisieisdesirousofredressingsocialgrievancesinordertosecurethecontinuedexistenceofbourgeoissociety.

Tothissectionbelongeconomists,philanthropists,humanitarians,improversoftheconditionoftheworkingclass,organizersofcharity,membersofsocietiesforthepreventionofcrueltytoanimals,temperancefanatics,hole-and-cornerreformersofeveryimaginablekind.Thisformofsocialismhas,moreover,beenworkedoutintocompletesystems.

WemayciteProudhon'sPhilosophyofPovertyasanexampleofthisform.Thesocialisticbourgeoiswantalltheadvantagesofmodernsocialconditionswithoutthestrugglesanddangersnecessarilyresultingtherefrom.Theydesiretheexistingstateofsociety,minusitsrevolutionaryanddisintegratingelements.Theywishforabourgeoisiewithoutaproletariat.Thebourgeoisienaturallyconceivestheworldinwhichitissupremetobethebest;andbourgeoissocialismdevelopsthiscomfortableconceptionintovariousmoreorlesscompletesystems.Inrequiringtheproletariattocarryoutsuchasystem,andtherebytomarchstraightawayintothesocialNewJerusalem,itbutrequiresinrealitythattheproletariatshouldremainwithintheboundsofexistingsociety,butshouldcastawayallitshatefulideasconcerningthebourgeoisie.

Asecond,andmorepractical,butlesssystematic,formofthissocialismsoughttodepreciateeveryrevolutionarymovementintheeyesoftheworkingclassbyshowingthatnomerepoliticalreform,butonlyachangeinthematerialconditionsofexistence,ineconomicalrelations,couldbeofanyadvantagetothem.Bychangesinthematerialconditionsofexistence,thisformofsocialism,however,bynomeans

understandsabolitionofthebourgeoisrelationsofproduction,anabolitionthatcanbeaffectedonlybyarevolution,butadministrativereforms,basedonthecontinuedexistenceoftheserelations;reforms,therefore,thatinnorespectaffecttherelationsbetweencapitalandlabor,but,atthebest,lessenthecost,andsimplifytheadministrativeworkofbourgeoisgovernment.

Bourgeoissocialismattainsadequateexpressionwhen,andonlywhen,itbecomesamerefigureofspeech.

Freetrade:forthebenefitoftheworkingclass.Protectiveduties:forthebenefitoftheworkingclass.Prisonreform:forthebenefitoftheworkingclass.Thisisthelastwordandtheonlyseriouslymeantwordofbourgeoissocialism.

Itissummedupinthephrase:thebourgeoisisabourgeois--forthebenefitoftheworkingclass.

3.CRITICAL-UTOPIANSOCIALISMANDCOMMUNISM

Wedonothererefertothatliteraturewhich,ineverygreatmodernrevolution,hasalwaysgivenvoicetothedemandsoftheproletariat,suchasthewritingsofBabeuf[4]andothers.

Thefirstdirectattemptsoftheproletariattoattainitsownends,madeintimesofuniversalexcitement,whenfeudalsocietywasbeingoverthrown,necessarilyfailed,owingtothethenundevelopedstateoftheproletariat,aswellastotheabsenceoftheeconomicconditionsforitsemancipation,conditionsthathadyettobeproduced,andcouldbeproducedbytheimpendingbourgeoisepochalone.Therevolutionary

literaturethataccompaniedthesefirstmovementsoftheproletariathadnecessarilyareactionarycharacter.Itinculcateduniversalasceticismandsociallevellinginitscrudestform.

Thesocialistandcommunistsystems,properlysocalled,thoseofSaint-Simon[5],Fourier[6],Owen[7],andothers,springintoexistenceintheearlyundevelopedperiod,describedabove,ofthestrugglebetweenproletariatandbourgeoisie(seeSection1.BourgeoisandProletarians).

Thefoundersofthesesystemssee,indeed,theclassantagonisms,aswellastheactionofthedecomposingelementsintheprevailingformofsociety.Buttheproletariat,asyetinitsinfancy,offerstothemthespectacleofaclasswithoutanyhistoricalinitiativeoranyindependentpoliticalmovement.

Sincethedevelopmentofclassantagonismkeepsevenpacewiththedevelopmentofindustry,theeconomicsituation,astheyfindit,doesnotasyetoffertothemthe

materialconditionsfortheemancipationoftheproletariat.Theythereforesearchafteranewsocialscience,afternewsociallaws,thataretocreatetheseconditions.Historicalactionistoyieldtotheirpersonalinventiveaction;historicallycreatedconditionsofemancipationtofantasticones;andthegradual,spontaneousclassorganizationoftheproletariattoanorganizationofsocietyespeciallycontrivedbytheseinventors.Futurehistoryresolvesitself,intheireyes,intothepropagandaandthepracticalcarryingoutoftheirsocialplans.

Intheformationoftheirplans,theyareconsciousofcaringchieflyfortheinterestsoftheworkingclass,asbeingthemostsufferingclass.Onlyfromthepointofviewofbeingthemostsufferingclassdoestheproletariatexistforthem.

Theundevelopedstateoftheclassstruggle,aswellastheirownsurroundings,causesSocialistsofthiskindtoconsiderthemselvesfarsuperiortoallclassantagonisms.Theywanttoimprovetheconditionofeverymemberofsociety,eventhatofthemostfavored.Hence,theyhabituallyappealtosocietyatlarge,withoutthedistinctionofclass;nay,bypreference,totherulingclass.Forhowcanpeoplewhenoncethey

understandtheirsystem,failtoseeinitthebestpossibleplanofthebestpossiblestateofsociety?

Hence,theyrejectallpolitical,andespeciallyallrevolutionaryaction;theywishtoattaintheirendsbypeacefulmeans,necessarilydoomedtofailure,andbytheforceofexample,topavethewayforthenewsocialgospel.

Suchfantasticpicturesoffuturesociety,paintedatatimewhentheproletariatisstillinaveryundevelopedstateandhasbutafantasticconceptionofitsownposition,correspondwiththefirstinstinctiveyearningsofthatclassforageneralreconstructionofsociety.

Butthesesocialistandcommunistpublicationscontainalsoacriticalelement.Theyattackeveryprincipleofexistingsociety.Hence,theyarefullofthemostvaluablematerialsfortheenlightenmentoftheworkingclass.Thepracticalmeasuresproposedinthem--suchastheabolitionofthedistinctionbetweentownandcountry,ofthefamily,ofthecarryingonofindustriesfortheaccountofprivateindividuals,andofthewagesystem,theproclamationofsocialharmony,theconversionofthefunctionofthestateintoamoresuperintendenceofproduction--alltheseproposalspointsolelytothedisappearanceofclassantagonismswhichwere,atthattime,onlyjustcroppingup,andwhich,inthesepublications,arerecognizedintheirearliestindistinctandundefinedformsonly.Theseproposals,therefore,areofapurelyutopiancharacter.

Thesignificanceofcritical-utopiansocialismandcommunismbearsaninverse

relationtohistoricaldevelopment.Inproportionasthemodernclassstruggledevelopsandtakesdefiniteshape,thisfantasticstandingapartfromthecontest,thesefantasticattacksonit,loseallpracticalvalueandalltheoreticaljustifications.Therefore,

althoughtheoriginatorsofthesesystemswere,inmanyrespects,revolutionary,theirdiscipleshave,ineverycase,formedmerereactionarysects.Theyholdfastbytheoriginalviewsoftheirmasters,inoppositiontotheprogressivehistorical

developmentoftheproletariat.They,therefore,endeavor,andthatconsistently,todeadentheclassstruggleandtoreconciletheclassantagonisms.Theystilldreamofexperimentalrealizationoftheirsocialutopias,offoundingisolatedphalansteres,ofestablishing\"HomeColonies\orsettingupa\"LittleIcaria\"[8]--pocketeditionsoftheNewJerusalem--andtorealizeallthesecastlesintheair,theyarecompelledtoappealtothefeelingsandpursesofthebourgeois.Bydegrees,theysinkintothecategoryofthereactionaryconservativesocialistsdepictedabove,differingfromtheseonlybymoresystematicpedantry,andbytheirfanaticalandsuperstitiousbeliefinthemiraculouseffectsoftheirsocialscience.

They,therefore,violentlyopposeallpoliticalactiononthepartoftheworkingclass;suchaction,accordingtothem,canonlyresultfromblindunbeliefinthenewgospel.

TheOwenitesinEngland,andtheFourieristsinFrance,respectively,opposetheChartistsandtheReformistes.

IV--POSITIONOFTHECOMMUNISTSINRELATIONTO

THEVARIOUSEXISTINGOPPOSITIONPARTIES

SectionIIhasmadecleartherelationsoftheCommuniststotheexistingworking-classparties,suchastheChartistsinEnglandandtheAgrarianReformersinAmerica.TheCommunistsfightfortheattainmentoftheimmediateaims,fortheenforcementofthemomentaryinterestsoftheworkingclass;butinthemovementofthepresent,theyalsorepresentandtakecareofthefutureofthatmovement.InFrance,theCommunistsallywiththeSocialDemocrats*againsttheconservativeandradicalbourgeoisie,reserving,however,therighttotakeupacriticalpositioninregardtophasesandillusionstraditionallyhandeddownfromtheGreatRevolution.

InSwitzerland,theysupporttheRadicals,withoutlosingsightofthefactthatthispartyconsistsofantagonisticelements,partlyofDemocraticSocialists,intheFrenchsense,partlyofradicalbourgeois.

InPoland,theysupportthepartythatinsistsonanagrarianrevolutionastheprimeconditionfornationalemancipation,thatpartywhichfomentedtheinsurrectionofKrakowin1846.

InGermany,theyfightwiththebourgeoisiewheneveritactsinarevolutionaryway,againsttheabsolutemonarchy,thefeudalsquirearchy,andthepetty-bourgeoisie.Buttheynevercease,forasingleinstant,toinstillintotheworkingclasstheclearestpossiblerecognitionofthehostileantagonismbetweenbourgeoisieandproletariat,inorderthattheGermanworkersmaystraightwayuse,assomanyweaponsagainstthebourgeoisie,thesocialandpoliticalconditionsthatthebourgeoisiemustnecessarilyintroducealongwithitssupremacy,andinorderthat,afterthefallofthereactionaryclassesinGermany,thefightagainstthebourgeoisieitselfmayimmediatelybegin.TheCommuniststurntheirattentionchieflytoGermany,becausethatcountryisontheeveofabourgeoisrevolutionthatisboundtobecarriedoutundermoreadvancedconditionsofEuropeancivilizationandwithamuchmoredevelopedproletariatthanthatofEnglandwasintheseventeenth,andFranceintheeighteenthcentury,andbecausethebourgeoisrevolutioninGermanywillbebutthepreludetoanimmediatelyfollowingproletarianrevolution.

Inshort,theCommunistseverywheresupporteveryrevolutionarymovementagainsttheexistingsocialandpoliticalorderofthings.

Inallthesemovements,theybringtothefront,astheleadingquestionineach,thepropertyquestion,nomatterwhatitsdegreeofdevelopmentatthetime.

Finally,theylaboreverywherefortheunionandagreementofthedemocraticpartiesofallcountries.

TheCommunistsdisdaintoconcealtheirviewsandaims.Theyopenlydeclarethattheirendscanbeattainedonlybytheforcibleoverthrowofallexistingsocial

conditions.Lettherulingclassestrembleatacommunistrevolution.Theproletarianshavenothingtolosebuttheirchains.Theyhaveaworldtowin.

Proletariansofallcountries,unite!