#86 - Close Reading: "Principles of Communism" (Part 1)
Feb 23, 2019
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Friedrich Engels, author of 'The Principles of Communism,' discusses the definition of communism and its aim to organize society for the freedom of every member. They explore the sale of labor, exploitation of petty bourgeois workers, and the transition to capitalism. The chapter also delves into the differences between proletarians and slaves, as well as capitalism's plausible deniability and the challenges in recognizing its impact on society.
The industrial revolution led to the rise of the bourgeoisie as the dominant class and the growing discontent of the proletariat prepared the ground for a proletarian social revolution.
Proletarians differ from slaves and serfs in their daily sale of labor and cash relation with their employer, while having the potential to free themselves through the proletarian movement.
The rise of big industry led to the displacement of the aristocracy and guild masters by the bourgeoisie, who established a society based on free competition and held political power through constitutional monarchies.
Deep dives
The Consequences of the Industrial Revolution and the Division of Society
The industrial revolution led to the destruction of the old system of manufacture based on hand labor, revolutionizing semi-barbarian countries and bringing them into contact with the world market. It also led to the rise of the bourgeoisie as the dominant class, displacing the aristocracy and guild masters. At the same time, the proletariat grew in numbers and developed a consciousness of their own strength. The growing discontent and worsening conditions of the proletariat prepared the ground for a proletarian social revolution.
The Distinctions Between Proletarians, Slaves, Serfs, and Handicraftsmen
Proletarians differ from slaves in that they must sell themselves daily and hourly, while a slave is sold once and for all. Proletarians differ from serfs in that they have no instruments of production and live in a cash relation with their employer, whereas serfs have possession of land and have a patriarchal relation to their employer. Handicraftsmen aim to acquire capital and exploit other workers, while proletarians work for capital and have the potential to free themselves through the proletarian movement.
The Creation of a World Market and the Role of Big Industry
Big industry has brought all people into contact through merging local markets into one world market. It has revolutionized countries that had little progress for thousands of years and spread civilization and progress everywhere. The growth of capital and big industry leads to the growth of the proletariat, both in numbers and in consciousness of their own strength. The proletariat is driven to unbearable conditions due to the pressure on wages, which leads to the preparation for a proletarian social revolution.
The Rise of the Bourgeoisie and the Annihilation of the Old Ruling Classes
With the rise of big industry, the bourgeoisie became the dominant class, displacing the aristocracy and guild masters. It destroyed the power of the nobility and guild masters by abolishing their privileges and establishing a state of society based on free competition. The bourgeoisie also took political power and established constitutional monarchies in which only those with capital were voters. These bourgeois voters chose deputies who formed a bourgeois government.
The Development of the Proletariat in Step with the Bourgeoisie
The proletariat grows in numbers as the bourgeoisie grows in wealth and power. The proletarians and bourgeoisie are drawn together into cities, where industry can be carried on most profitably, and this concentration of the proletariat contributes to their rising consciousness and potential for revolution.
The Gang dives into their first Close Reading! Jake reads every single word of Friedrich Engels' 1847 communist FAQ and "Manifesto" draft "The Principles of Communism" while Grant and Lexi join in to help update it. Part 1 of 3
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