The Communist Manifesto

Written on the eve of the 1848 revolutions, this short text presents history as a succession of struggles between classes. Marx and Engels describe the rise of the bourgeoisie, the way industry transformed labour, and the formation of a working class they hold bound to organise. They set out their programme and review the rival socialist currents of their day. The pamphlet examines the links between economic and political power. Its authors wrote it as a call to action, and its phrasing has shaped political language since.