Manifesto of the Communist Party

"The Manifesto of the Communist Party," commonly known as the Communist Manifesto, is a seminal political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Published in 1848, it is one of the most influential texts in modern history and serves as the foundational document of Marxist theory and communist ideology.

At its core, the Communist Manifesto is a call to action for the working class to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a classless society based on common ownership of the means of production. Marx and Engels argue that the history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle, with the ruling class exploiting the labor of the working class for its own benefit.

The Manifesto outlines the key principles of communism, including the abolition of private property, the centralization of industry and agriculture, and the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat—a transitional state in which the working class holds political power. Marx and Engels envision a society in which wealth and resources are shared equitably, and all members of society contribute according to their ability and receive according to their needs.