Manifesto of the Communist Party

Key Critique of Capitalism in Communist Manifesto

Exploitation, inequality and conflict between classes

What inevitability does the Communist Manifesto argue for?

The inevitability of class struggle throughout history

Communist Calling

Working class (proletariat) to overthrow bourgeoisie (capitalist class)

Ultimate goal of communism

To establish a classless, communist society.

Historical Materialism

History is defined by class struggles / economic conditions of society / MoP & RoP

Class Struggle

Conflict between the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat).

Bourgeoisie

The ruling class/elite that owns the means of production and employs wage laborers.

Proletariat

The working class that does NOT own the means of production, existing solely to increase capital.

Labor exists only to increase capital

Lost all individual charm & character of workman

Alienation of labor

Workers do not own the products of their labor and are treated as expendable commodities.

Abolition of private property

Collective ownership of the means of production for fair distribution of wealth and no exploitation

Political centralization

A unified government, code of laws, and national class-interest.

'Free trade'

As veiled exploitation, hidden under religious and political illusions.

Factors of Production

Workers, technology, natural resources, production processes

Relations of Production

Social relationships and power dynamics that emerge from the organization of production within a given mode of production

Marx’ Assumptions

1. Relationships understood through material needs

2. Society characterized by social conflict between those who control MoP and those who don’t

3. Stopping class conflict in its entirety is what constitutes as social change

Superstructure

• Product of human consciousness that arise as a result of underlying economic base

• Sphere of law, politics, education, media, family structures, and idealogy

Evolution of Mode of Production

1. Communalist

2. Slave society

3. Feudalism

4. Capitalism

5. Socialism

6. Communism

Evolution of Factors of Production

1. Communal Labor + K

2. Slave + K

3. Peasants + K

4. Laborers + Capital

5. Laborers + Capital

6. Communal labor + capital

Evolution of Relations of Production

1. Communal Labor + Community

2. Slave + Slave owner

3. Peasants + Landlord

4. Laboreres + Capitalist

5. Laborers + State

6. Communal Labor + Community

Hegemony

• Those who control MoP shape society’s systems to justify their control and influence all aspects of society in order to maintain their advantage

False consciousness

Accepting inequality and control as normal

Surplus Value of Labor

• Not just use but expropriate laborers to reproduce more profit

Use value of commodities

Consumption value of goods (i.e: selling price)

Value Labor Power

Sum of subsistence necessary to keep person alive/reproducing

To ensure surplus value of labor

Exploitation must continue to happen as alienation of labor continues

Absolute surplus value

Extend length of work hours to increase productivity

Relative Surplus Value

Enable workers to produce more for same amount of time either through organizational structure, advanced tech or both

Forms of Alienation

1. Nature

2. One’s product

3. Labor itself

4. Others

Alienation from nature

Tech & innovations compel members of society to not have access to raw materials

Alienation from one’s product

1. No one person can claim ownership of finished product

2. Monetary value of goods & services?

Alienation from Labor itself

• Disconnect & lack of control that workers experience within production process

Alienation from Others

Home: Gendered division

Work: Specialization + producing more limited people’s interactions

Class awareness

• Workers recognize common conditions, being exposed to one another, so they form a class

• Becoming a class IN itself

Class Consciousness

• After recognizing common oppression, they see how it is a condition of poverty/exploitation compared to the capitalist class

• Becoming a class BY itself