Part1：
InMemoryoftheCommunistManifestoInthreeyearswecancelebrateourjubilee。ThememorabledateofpublicationoftheCommunistManifesto（February，1848）marksourfirstunquestionedentranceintohistory。Tothatdatearereferredallourjudgmentsandallourcongratulationsontheprogressmadebytheproletariatintheselastfiftyyears。Thatdatemarksthebeginningofthenewera。Thisisarising，or，rather，isseparatingitselffromthepresentera，andisdevelopingbyaprocesspeculiartoitselfandthusinawaythatisnecessaryandinevitable，whatevermaybethevicissitudesandthesuccessivephaseswhichcannotyetbeforeseen。
AllthoseinourrankswhohaveadesireoranoccasiontopossessabetterunderstandingoftheirownworkshouldbringtomindthecausesandthemovingforceswhichdeterminedthegenesisoftheManifesto，thecircumstancesunderwhichitappearedontheeveoftheRevolutionwhichburstforthfromParistoVienna，fromPalermotoBerlin。Onlyinthiswaywillitbepossibleforustofindinthepresentsocialformtheexplanationofthetendencytowardssocialism，thusshowingbyitspresentnecessitytheinevitabilityofitstriumph。
IsnotthatinfactthevitalpartoftheManifesto，itsessenceanditsdistinctivecharacter？
Wesurelyshouldbetakingafalseroadifweregardedastheessentialpartthemeasuresadvisedandproposedattheendofthesecondchapterforthecontingencyofarevolutionarysuccessonthepartoftheproletariat——oragaintheindicationsofpoliticalrelationshiptotheotherrevolutionarypartiesofthatepochwhicharefoundinthefourthchapter。Theseindicationsandthesemeasures，althoughtheydeservedtobetakenintoconsiderationatthemomentandunderthecircumstanceswheretheywereformulatedandsuggested，andalthoughtheymaybeveryimportantforformingapreciseestimateofthepoliticalactionoftheGermancommunistsintherevolutionaryperiodfrom1848to1850，henceforthnolongerformforusamassofpracticaljudgmentsfororagainstwhichweshouldtakesidesineachcontingency。
ThepoliticalpartieswhichsincetheInternationalhaveestablishedthemselvesindifferentcountries，inthenameoftheproletariat，andtakingitclearlyfortheirbase，havefelt，andfeel，inproportionastheyarebornanddevelop，theimperiousnecessityofadoptingandconformingtheirprogrammeandtheiractiontocircumstancesalwaysdifferentandmultiform。ButnotoneofthesepartiesfeelsthedictatorshipoftheproletariatsonearoreventhetemptationtoexamineanewandpassjudgmentuponthemeasuresproposedintheManifesto。
Therereallyarenohistoricexperiencesbutthosethathistorymakesitself。
Itisasimpossibletoforeseethemastoplanthembeforehandormakethemtoorder。ThatiswhathappenedatthemomentoftheCommune，whichwasandwhichstillremainsuptothisdaytheonlyexperience（althoughpartialandconfusedbecauseitwassuddenandofshortduration）oftheactionoftheproletariatingainingcontrolofpoliticalpower。Thisexperience，too，wasneitherdesirednorsoughtfor，butimposedbycircumstances。Itwasheroicallycarriedthroughandhasbecomeasalutarylessonforustoday。
Itmighteasilyhappenthatwherethesocialistmovementisstillinitsbeginnings，appealmaybemade，forlackofpersonaldirectexperience——
asoftenhappensinItaly——totheauthorityofatextfromtheManifestoasifitwereaprecept，butthesepassagesareinrealityofnoimportance。
Again，wemustnot，asIbelieve，seekforthisvitalpart，thisessence，thisdistinctivecharacter，inwhattheManifestosaysoftheotherformsofsocialismofwhichitspeaksunderthenameofliterature。Theentirethirdchaptermaydoubtlessservefordefiningclearlybywayofexclusionandantithesis，bybriefbutvigorouscharacterizations，thedifferenceswhichreallyexistbetweenthecommunismcommonlycharacterizedto-dayasscientific——anexpressionsometimesusedinamistakenway——thatistosay，betweenthecommunismwhichhastheproletariatforitssubjectandtheproletarianrevolutionforitstheme，andtheotherformsofsocialism；
reactionary，bourgeois，semi-bourgeois，petite-bourgeois，utopian，etc。Alltheseformsexceptone（1*）havere-appearedandrenewedthemselvesmorethanonce。Theyarere-appearingunderanewformevento-dayinthecountrieswherethemodernproletarianmovementisofrecentbirth。ForthesecountriesandunderthesecircumstancestheManifestohasexercisedandstillexercisesthefunctionofcontemporarycriticismandofaliterarywhip。Andinthecountrieswheretheseformshavealreadybeentheoreticallyandpracticallyoutgrown，asinGermanyandAustria，orsurviveonlyasanindividualopinionamongafew，asinFranceandEngland，withoutspeakingofothernations，theManifestofromthispointofviewhasplayeditspart。Itthusmerelyrecordsasamatterofhistorysomethingnolongernecessarytothinkof，sincewehavetodealwiththepoliticalactionoftheproletariatwhichalreadyisbeforeusinitsgradualandnormalcourse。
Thatwas，toanticipate，theattitudeofmindofthosewhowroteit。Bytheforceoftheirthoughtandwithsomescantydataofexperiencetheyhadanticipatedtheeventswhichhaveoccurredandtheycontentedthemselveswithdeclaringtheeliminationandthecondemnationofwhattheyhadoutgrown。
Criticalcommunism——thatisitstruename，andthereisnonemoreexactforthisdoctrine——didnottakeitsstandwiththefeudalistsinregrettingtheoldsocietyforthesakeofcriticisingbycontrastthecontemporarysociety——ithadaneyeonlytothefuture。Neitherdiditassociateitselfwiththepettybourgeoisinthedesireofsavingwhatcannotbesaved——
as，forexample，smallproprietorship，orthetranquillifeofthesmallproprietorwhomthebewilderingactionofthemodernstate，thenecessaryandnaturalorganofpresentsociety，destroysandoverturns，becausebyitsconstantrevolutionsitcarriesinitselfthenecessityforotherrevolutionsnewandmorefundamental。
Neitherdidittranslateintometaphysicalwhimsicalities，intosicklysentimentalism，orintoareligiouscontemplation，therealcontrastsofthematerialinterestsofeverydaylife：onthecontrary，itexposedthosecontrastsinalltheirprosaicreality。Itdidnotconstructthesocietyofthefutureuponaplanharmoniouslyconceivedineachofitsparts。Ithasnowordofeulogyandexaltation，ofinvocationandofregret，forthetwogoddessesofphilosophicmythology，justiceandequality，thosetwogoddesseswhocutsosadafigureinthepracticalaffairsofeverydaylife，whenweobservethatthehistoryofsomanycenturiesmaliciouslyamusesitselfbynearlyalwayscontradictingtheirinfalliblesuggestions。Oncemorethesecommunists，whiledeclaringonthestrengthoffactswhichcarryconvictionthatthemissionoftheproletariansistobethegravediggersofthebourgeoisie，stillrecognizethelatterastheauthorofasocialformwhichrepresentsextensivelyandintensivelyanimportantstageofprogress，andwhichalonecanfurnishthefieldforthenewstruggleswhichalreadygivepromiseofahappyissuefortheproletariat。Neverwasfuneralorationsomagnificent。
Thereisinthesepraisesaddressedtothebourgeoisieacertaintragicalhumor——theyhavebeencomparedtodithyrambics。
Thenegativeandantitheticaldefinitionsofotherformsofsocialismthencurrent，whichhaveoftenre-appearedsince，evenuptothepresenttime，althoughtheyarefundamentallybeyondcriticismbothintheirformandtheiraim，nevertheless，donotpretendtobeandarenottherealhistoryofsocialism；theyfurnishneitheritsoutlinesnoritsplanforhimwhowouldwriteit。Historyinrealitydoesnotrestuponthedistinctionbetweenthetrueandthefalse，thejustandtheunjustandstilllessuponthemoreabstractantithesisbetweenthepossibleandtherealasifthethingswereononesideandontheothersideweretheirshadowsandtheirreflectionsinideas。Historyisallofapiece，anditrestsupontheprocessofformationandtransformationofsociety；andthatevidentlyinafashionaltogetherobjectiveandindependentofourapprovalordisapproval。Itisadynamicofaspecialclasstospeaklikethepositivistswhoaresodaintywithexpressionsofthissortbutareoftendominatedbythenewphrasestheyhaveputout。
Thedifferentsocialistformsofthoughtandactionwhichhaveappearedanddisappearedinthecourseofthecenturies，sodifferentintheircauses，theiraspects，andtheireffects，arealltobestudiedandexplainedbythespecificandcomplexconditionsofthesociallifeinwhichtheywereproduced。Uponacloseexaminationitisseenthattheydonotformonesinglewholeofcontinuousprocessbecausetheseriesisfrequentlyinterruptedbychangesinthesocialfabricandbythedisappearanceandbreakingoffofthetradition。ItisonlysincetheFrenchRevolutionthatsocialismpresentsacertainunityofprocess，whichappearsmoreevidentsince1830withthedefinitepoliticalsupremacyofthecapitalistclassinFranceandEnglandandwhichfinallybecomesobvious，wemightsayevenpalpable，sincetheriseoftheInternational。UponthisroadtheManifestostandslikeacolossalguidepostbearingadoubleinscription：ononesidethefirstsketchofthenewdoctrinewhichhasnowmadethecircleoftheworld；ontheother，thedefinitionofitsrelationstotheformswhichitexcludes，withoutgiving，however，anyhistoricaccountofthem。
Thevitalpart，theessence，thedistinctivecharacterofthisworkareallcontainedinthenewconceptionofhistorywhichpermeatesitandwhichinitispartiallyexplainedanddeveloped。Bytheaidofthisconception，communism，ceasingtobeahope，anaspiration，aremembrance，aconjecture，andexpedient，foundforthefirsttimeitsadequateexpressionintherealizationofitsverynecessity，thatistosay，intherealizationthatitistheoutcomeandthesolutionofthestrugglesofexistingclasses。Thesestruggleshavevariedaccordingtotimesandplacesandoutofthemhistoryhasdeveloped；
but，theyareallreducedinourdaystothesinglestrugglebetweenthecapitalistbourgeoisandtheworkingmeninevitablyforcedintotheranksoftheproletariat。TheManifestogivesthegenesisofthisstruggle；itdetailsitsevolutionaryrhythm，andpredictsitsfinalresult。
Inthatconceptionofhistoryisembodiedthewholedoctrineofscientificcommunism。Fromthatmomentthetheoreticaladversariesofsocialismhavenolongerhadtodiscusstheabstractpossibilityofthedemocraticsocializationofthemeansofproduction；（2*）asifitwerepossibleinthisquestiontoresttheirjudgmentuponinductionsbaseduponthegeneralandcommonaptitudesofwhattheycharacterizeashumannature。Thenceforth，thequestionwastorecognize，ornottorecognize，inthecourseofhumaneventsthenecessitywhichstandsoverandaboveoursympathyandoursubjectiveassent。Isorisnotsocietyinthecountriesmostadvancedincivilizationorganizedinsuchawaythatitwillpassintocommunismbythelawsinherentinitsownfuture，onceconcedingitspresenteconomicstructureandthefrictionwhichitnecessarilyproduceswithinitself，andwhichwillendbybreakinganddissolvingit？Thatisthesubjectofalldiscussionsincetheappearanceofthistheoryandthencefollowsalsotheruleofconductwhichimposesitselfupontheactionofthesocialistpartieswhethertheyhaveintheirranksmenwhohavecomeoutfromtheotherclassesandwhojoinasvolunteersthearmyoftheproletariat。
Thatiswhywevoluntarilyaccepttheepithetofscientific，providedwedonotthusconfuseourselveswiththepositivists，sometimesembarrassingguests，whoassumetothemselvesamonopolyofscience；wedonotseektomaintainanabstractandgenericthesislikelawyersorsophists，andwedonotplumeourselvesondemonstratingthereasonablenessofouraims。Ourintentionsarenothinglessthanthetheoreticalexpressionandthepracticalexplanationofthedataofferedusbytheinterpretationoftheprocesswhichisbeingaccomplishedamongusandaboutusandwhichhasitwholeexistenceintheobjectiverelationsofsociallifeofwhichwearethesubjectandtheobject，thecauseandtheeffect。Ouraimsarerational，notbecausetheyarefoundedonargumentsdrawnfromthereasoningofreason，butbecausetheyarederivedfromtheobjectivestudyofthings，thatistosay，fromtheexplanationoftheirprocess，whichisnot，andwhichcannotbe，aresultofourwillbutwhichonthecontrarytriumphsoverourwillandsubduesit。
NotoneofthepreviousorsubsequentworksoftheauthorsoftheManifestothemselves，althoughtheyhaveamuchmoreconsiderablescientificleaning，canreplacetheManifestoorhavethesamespecificefficacy。Itgivesusinitsclassicsimplicitythetrueexpressionofthissituation；themodernproletariatexists，takesitsstand，growsanddevelopsincontemporaryhistoryastheconcretesubject，thepositiveforcewhosenecessarilyrevolutionaryactionmustfindincommunismitsnecessaryoutcome。Andthatiswhythisworkwhilegivingatheoreticalbasetoitspredictionandexpressingitinbrief，rapidandconciseformulae，formsastorehouse，orratheraninexhaustiblemineofembryonicthoughtswhichthereadermayfertilizeandmultiplyindefinitely；
itpreservesalltheoriginalandoriginatingforceofthethingwhichisbutlatelybornandwhichhasnotyetleftthefieldofitsproduction。Thisobservationisintendedespeciallyforthosewhoapplyingalearnedignorance，whentheyarenothumbugs，charlatans，oramiabledilletanti，givetothedoctrineofcriticalcommunismprecursors，patrons，alliesandmastersofeveryclasswithoutanyrespectforcommonsenseandthemostvulgarchronology。
Or，againtheytrytobringbackourmaterialisticconceptionofhistoryintothetheoryofuniversalevolutionwhichtothemindsofmanyisbutanewmetaphorofanewmetaphysics。OragaintheyseekinthisdoctrineaderivativeofDarwinismwhichisananalogoustheoryonlyinacertainpointofviewandinaverybroadsense；oragaintheyhavetheycondescensiontofavoruswiththeallianceorthepatronageofthatpositivephilosophywhichextendsfromComte，thatdegenerateandreactionarydiscipleofthegenialSaint-Simon，toSpencer，thatquintessenceofanarchicalcapitalism，whichistosaythattheywishtogiveusforalliesourmostopenadversaries。
Itistoitsoriginthatthisworkowesitsfertilizingpower，itsclassicstrength，andthefactthatithasgiveninsofewpagesthesynthesisofsomanyseriesandgroupsofideas。（3*）
ItistheworkoftwoGermans，butitisnoteitherinitsformoritsbasistheexpressionofpersonalopinion。Itcontainsnotraceoftheimprecations，ortheanxieties，orthebitternessfamiliartoallpoliticalrefugeesandtoallthosewhohavevoluntarilyabandonedtheircountrytobreatheelsewherefreerair。Neitherdowefindinitthedirectreproductionoftheconditionsoftheirowncountry，theninadeplorablepoliticalstateandwhichcouldnotbecomparedtothoseofFranceandEnglandsociallyandeconomically，exceptasregardscertainportionsoftheirterritory。Theybroughttotheirwork，onthecontrary，thephilosophicalthoughtwhichalonehadplacedandmaintainedtheircountryuponthelevelofcontemporaryhistory：——thisphilosophicthoughtwhichintheirhandswasundergoingthatimportanttransformationwhichpermittedmaterialism，alreadyrenewedbyFeuerbachcombinedwithdialectics，toembraceandunderstandthemovementofhistoryinitsmostsecretanduntilthenunexploredcauses，——unexploredbecausehiddenanddifficulttoobserve。Bothwerecommunistsandrevolutionists，buttheyweresoneitherbyinstinct，byimpulsenorbypassion。TheyhadelaboratedanentirelynewcriticismofeconomicscienceandtheyhadunderstoodtheconnectionandthehistoricmeaningoftheproletarianmovementonbothsidesoftheChannel，inFranceandinEngland，beforetheywerecalledtogiveintheManifestotheprogrammeandthedoctrineoftheCommunistLeague。ThishaditscenterinLondonandnumerousbranchesonthecontinent；ithadbehinditalifeandadevelopmentofitsown。
Engelshadalreadypublishedacriticalessayinwhichpassingoverallsubjectiveandone-sidedcorrectionshebroughtoutforthefirsttimeinanobjectivefashionthecriticismofpoliticaleconomyandoftheantithesesinherentinthedataandtheconceptsofthateconomyitself，andhehadbecomecelebratedbythepublicationofabookontheconditionoftheworkingclasswhichwasthefirstattempttorepresentthemovementsoftheworkingclassasaresultoftheworkingsoftheforcesandmeansofproduction。（4*）
Marx，inthefewyearspreceding，hadbecomeknownasaradicalpublicistinGermany，ParisandBrussels。Hehadconceivedthefirstrudimentsofthematerialisticconceptionofhistory。HehadmadeatheoreticallyvictoriouscriticismofthehypothesesofProudhonandthedeductionsfromhisdoctrine，andhadgiventhefirstpreciseexplanationoftheoriginofsurplusvalueasaconsequenceofthepurchaseandtheuseoflaborpower，thatistosaythefirstgermoftheconceptionswhichwerelaterdemonstratedandexplainedintheirconnectionandtheirdetailsinCapital。BothmenwereintouchwiththerevolutionistsofthedifferentcountriesofEurope，notablyFrance，BelgiumandEngland；theirManifestowasnottheexpressionoftheirpersonaltheory，butthedoctrineofapartywhosespirit，aimandactivityalreadyformedtheInternationalWorkingmen’sAssociation。
Thesearethebeginningsofmodernsocialism。Wefindherethelinewhichseparatesitfromalltherest。
TheCommunistLeaguegrewoutoftheLeagueoftheJust；thelatterinitsturnhadbeenformedwithaclearconsciousnessofitsproletarianaimsthroughagradualspecializationofthegenericgroupoftherefugees，theexiles。Asatype，bearingwithinitselfinanembryonicdesigntheformofallthelatersocialistandproletarianmovements，ithadtraversedthedifferentphasesofconspiracyandofequalitariansocialism。ItwasmetaphysicalunderGruenandutopianwithWeitling。HavingitsprincipalseatatLondonitwasinterestedintheChartistmovementandhadhadsomeinfluenceoverit。Thismovementshowedbyitsdisorderedcharacter，becauseitwasneitherthefruitofapremeditatedexperience，northeembodimentofaconspiracyorofasect，howpainfullyanddifficultwastheformationofaproletarianpoliticalparty。thesocialisttendencywasnotmanifestedinChartismuntilthemovementwasnearitsendandwasnearlyfinished（thoughJonesandHornercanneverbeforgotten）。TheLeagueeverywherecarriedanodorofrevolution，bothbecausethethingwasintheairandbecauseitsinstinctandmethodofproceduretendedthatway：andaslongastherevolutionwasburstingfortheffectively，itprovideditself，thankstothenewdoctrineoftheManifesto，withaninstrumentoforientationwhichwasatthesametimeaweaponforcombat。Infact，alreadyinternational，bothbythequalityanddifferencesoforiginofitsmembers，andstillmorebytheresultoftheinstinctanddevotionofall，ittookitsplaceinthegeneralmovementofpoliticallifeastheclearanddefiniteprecursorofallthatcanto-daybecalledmodernsocialism，ifbymodernwemeannotthesimplefactofextrinsicchronologybutanindexoftheinternalororganicprocessofsociety。
Alonginterruptionfrom1852to1864whichwastheperiodofpoliticalreactionandatthesametimethatofthedisappearance，thedispersionandtheabsorptionoftheoldsocialistschools，separatestheInternationaloftheArbeiterbildungsvereinofLondon，fromtheInternationalproperlysocalled，which，from1864to1873，strovetoputunityintothestruggleoftheproletariatofEuropeandAmerica。TheactionoftheproletariathadotherinterruptionsespeciallyinFrance，andwiththeexceptionofGermany，fromthedissolutionoftheInternationalofgloriousmemoryuptothenewInternationalwhichlivesto-daythroughothermeansandwhichisdevelopinginotherways，bothofthemadaptedtothepoliticalsituationinwhichwelive，andbaseduponriperexperience。ButjustasthesurvivorsofthosewhoinDecember，1847，discussedandacceptedthenewdoctrine，havere-appearedonthepublicsceneinthegreatInternationalandlateragaininthenewInternational，theManifestoitselfhasalsore-appearedlittlebylittleandhasmadethetouroftheworldinallthelanguagesofthecivilizedcountries，somethingwhichitpromisedtodobutcouldnotdoatthetimeofisfirstappearance。
Therewasourrealpointofdeparture；therewereourrealprecursors。
Theymarchedbeforealltheothers，earlyintheday，withasteprapidbutsure，overthisexactroadwhichweweretotraverseandwhichwearetraversinginreality。Itisnotpropertogivethenameofourprecursorstothosewhofollowedwayswhichtheylaterhadtoabandon，ortothosewho，tospeakwithoutmetaphor，formulateddoctrinesandstartedmovements，doubtlessexplicablebythetimesandcircumstancesoftheirbirth，butwhichwerelateroutgrownbythedoctrineofcriticalcommunism，whichisthetheoryoftheproletarianrevolution。Thisdoesnotmeanthatthesedoctrinesandtheseattemptswereaccidental，uselessandsuperfluousphenomena。Thereisnothingirrationalinthehistoriccourseofthingsbecausenothingcomesintoexistencewithoutreason，andthusthereisnothingsuperfluous。Wecannotevento-dayarriveataperfectunderstandingofcriticalcommunismwithoutmentallyretracingthesedoctrinesandfollowingtheprocessesoftheirappearanceanddisappearance。
Infactthesedoctrineshavenotonlypassed，theyhavebeenintrinsicallyoutgrownbothbyreasonofthechangeintheconditionsofsocietyandbyreasonofthemoreexactunderstandingofthelawsuponwhichrestitsformationanditsprocess。
Themomentatwhichtheyenterintothepast，thatistosay，thatatwhichtheyareintrinsicallyoutgrown，ispreciselythatoftheappearanceoftheManifesto。Asthefirstindexofthegenesisofmodernsocialism，thiswriting，whichgivesonlythemostgeneralandthemosteasilyaccessiblefeaturesofitsteaching，bearswithinitselftracesofthehistoricfieldwithinwhichitwasborn，whichwasthatofFrance，EnglandandGermany。
Itsfieldforpropagandaanddiffusionhassincebecomewiderandwider，anditishenceforthasvastasthecivilizedworld。Inallcountriesinwhichthetendencytocommunismhasdevelopedthroughantagonismsunderaspectsdifferentbuteverydaymoreevidentbetweenthebourgeoisieandtheproletariat，theprocessofitsfirstformationiswhollyorpartlyrepeatedoverandover。Theproletarianpartieswhichareformedlittlebylittlehavetraversedanewthestagesofformationwhichtheirprecursorstraversedatfirst；buthisprocesshasbecomefromcountrytocountryandfromyeartoyearalwaysmorerapidbyreasonofthegreaterevidence，thepressingnecessityandenergyoftheantagonisms，andbecauseitiseasiertocreatebothforthefirsttime。Ourco-workersof50yearsagowerealsofromthispointofviewinternational，sincebytheirexampletheystartedtheproletariatofthedifferentnationsuponthegeneralmarchwhichlabormustaccomplish。
Buttheperfecttheoreticalknowledgeofsocialismtoday，asbefore，andasitalwayswillbe，liesintheunderstandingofitshistoricnecessity，thatistosay，intheconsciousnessofthemannerofitsgenesis；andthisispreciselyreflected，asinalimitedfieldofobservationandinahastyexample，intheformationoftheManifesto。Itwasintendedforaweaponofwarandthusbearsuponitsownexteriorthetracesofitsorigin。Itcontainsmoresubstantialdeclarationsthandemonstrations。Thedemonstrationrestsentirelyintheimperativeforceofitsnecessity。ButwemayretracetheprocessofthisformationandtoretraceitistounderstandtrulythedoctrineoftheManifesto。Thereisananalysiswhichwhileseparatingintheorythefactorsofanorganismdestroystheminsofarastheyareelementscontributingtotheunityofthewhole。Butthereisanotheranalysis，andthisalonepermitsustounderstandhistory，whichonlydistinguishesandseparatestheelementstofindagaininthemtheobjectivenecessityoftheirco-operationtowardthetotalresult。
Itisnowacurrentofopinionthatmodernsocialismisanormalandthusandinevitableproductofhistory。Itspoliticalaction，whichmayinfutureinvolvedelaysandset-backsbutneverhenceforthatotalabsorption，beginwiththeInternational。Nevertheless，theManifestoprecedesit。Itsteachingisofprimeimportanceinthelightwhichitthrowsontheproletarianmovement，whichmovementindeedhaditsbirthanddevelopmentindependentlyofanydoctrine。itisalsomorethanthislight。Criticalcommunismdatesfromthemomentwhentheproletarianmovementisnotmerelyaresultofsocialconditions，butwhenithasalreadystrengthenoughtounderstandthattheseconditionscanbechangedandtodiscernwhatmeanscanmodifythemandinwhatdirection。Itwasnotenoughtosaythatsocialismwasaresultofhistory。
Itwasalsonecessarytounderstandtheintrinsiccausesofthisoutcomeandtowhatallitsactivitytended。Thisaffirmation，thattheproletariatisanecessaryresultofmodernsociety，hasforitsmissiontosucceedthebourgeoisie，andtosucceeditastheproducingforceofanewsocialorderinwhichclassantagonismsshalldisappear，makesoftheManifestoacharacteristicepochinthegeneralcourseofhistory。Itisarevolution——butnotinthesenseofanapocalypseorapromisedmillennium。Itisthescientificandreflectedrevelationofthewaywhichourcivilsocietyistraversing（iftheshadeofFourierwillpardonme！）。
TheManifestothusgivesustheinsidehistoryofitsoriginandtherebyjustifiesitsdoctrineandatthesametimeexplainsitssingulareffectanditswonderfulefficacy。Withoutlosingourselvesindetails，herearetheseriesandgroupsofelementswhich，reunitedandcombinedinthisrapidandexactsynthesis，giveusthecluetoallthelaterdevelopmentofscientificsocialism。
Theimmediate，directandappreciablematerialisgivenbyFranceandEnglandwhichhadalreadyhadsince1830aworking-classmovementwhichsometimesresemblesandsometimesdifferentiatesitselffromtheotherrevolutionarymovementsandwhichextendedfrominstinctiverevolttothepracticalaimsofthepoliticalparties（ChartismandSocialDemocracyforexample）andgavebirthtodifferenttemporaryandperishableformsofcommunismandsemi-communismlikethattowhichthenameofsocialismwasthengiven。
Torecognizeinthesemovementsnolongerthefugitivephenomenonofmeteoricdisturbancesbutanewsocialfact，therewasneedofatheorywhichshouldexplainthem，——andatheorywhichshouldnotbeasimplecomplementofthedemocratictraditionnorthesubjectivecorrectionofthedisadvantages，thenceforthrecognized，oftheeconomyofcompetition：althoughmanywerethenconcernedwiththis。ThisnewtheorywasthepersonalworkofMarxandEngels。Theycarriedovertheconceptionofhistoricalprogressthroughtheprocessofantithesesfromtheabstractform，whichtheHegeliandialectichadalreadydescribedinitsmostgeneralfeatures，totheconcreteexplanationoftheclassstruggle；andinthishistoricmovementwhereithadbeensupposedthatweobservedthepassagefromonefromofideastoanotherformtheysawforthefirsttimethetransitionfromoneformofsocialanatomytoanother，thatisfromoneformofeconomicproductiontoanotherform。
Thishistoricconception，whichgaveatheoreticformtothisnecessityofthenewsocialrevolutionmoreorlessexplicitintheinstinctiveconsciousnessoftheproletariatandinitspassionateandspontaneousmovements，recognizingtheintrinsicandimminentnecessityoftherevolution，changedtheconceptofit。Thatwhichthesectsofconspiratorshadregardedasbelongingtothedomainofthewillandcapableofbeingconstructedatpleasure，becameasimpleprocesswhichmightbefavored，sustained，andassisted。Therevolutionbecametheobjectofapolicytheconditionsofwhicharegivenbythecomplexsituationofsociety；itthereforebecamearesultwhichtheproletariatmustattainthroughstrugglesandvariousmeansoforganizationwhichtheoldtacticsofrevoltshadnotyetimagined。Andthisbecausetheproletariatisnotanaccessoryandauxiliarymeans，anexcrescence，anevil，whichcanbeeliminatedfromthesocietyinwhichwearelivingbutbecauseitisitssubstratum，itsessentialcondition，itsinevitableeffectandinturnthecausewhichpreservesandmaintainssocietyitself；andthusitcannotemancipateitselfwithoutatthesametimeemancipatingeveryone，thatistosay，revolutionizingcompletelytheformofproduction。
JustastheLeagueoftheJusthadbecomeTheCommunistLeaguebystrippingitselfoftheformsofsymbolismandconspiracyandadoptinglittlebylittlethemeansofpropagandaandofpoliticalactionfromandafterthecheckattendingtheinsurrectionofBarbè；sandBlanqui，solikewisethenewdoctrine，whichtheLeagueacceptedandmadeitsown，definitivelyabandonedtheideaswhichinspiredtheactionofconspiracies，andconceivedastheoutcomeandobjectiveresultofaprocess，thatwhichtheconspiratorsbelievedtobetheresultofapre-determinedplanortheemanationfromtheirheroism。
Atthatpointbeginsanewascendinglineintheorderoffactsandanotherconnectionofconceptsandofdoctrines。
Thecommunismofconspiracy，theBlanquismofthattime，carriesusupthroughBuonarottiandalsothroughBazardandthe"Carbonari"
totheconspiracyofBaboeuf，atrueheirofancienttragedywhohurledhimselfagainstfatebecausetherewasnoconnectionbetweenhisaimandtheeconomicconditionofthemoment，andhewasasyetincapableofbringinguponthepoliticalsceneaproletariathavingabroadclassconsciousness。FromBaboeufandcertainlessknownelementsoftheJacobinperiod，pastBoisselandFauchetweascendtotheintuitiveMorellyandtotheoriginalandversatileMablyandifyoupleasetothechaoticTestamentofthecuré；Meslier，aninstinctiveandviolentrebellionof"goodsense"againstthesavageoppressionenduredbytheunhappypeasant。
Theseprecursorsofthesocialismofviolence，protestandconspiracywereallequalitarians；aswerealsomostoftheconspirators。Thusbyasingularbutinevitableerrortheytookforaweaponofcombat，interpretingitandgeneralizingit，thatsamedoctrineofequalitywhich，developingasanaturalrightparalleltotheformationoftheeconomictheory，hadbecomeaninstrumentinthehandsofthebourgeoisiewhichwaswinningstepbystepitspresentpositiontotransformthesocietyofprivilegeintothatofliberalism，freeexchangeandthecivilcode。（5*）
Followingthisimmediatedeductionwhichatbottomwasasimpleillusion，thatallmenbeingequalinnatureshouldalsobeequalintheirenjoyments，itwasthoughtthattheappealtoreasoncarriedwithitalltheelementsofpropagandaandpersuasion，andthattherapid，immediateandviolenttakingpossessionoftheexteriorinstrumentsofpoliticalpowerwastheonlymeanstosetrightthosewhoresisted。
Butwhencecomeandhowpersistalltheseinequalitieswhichappearsoirrationalinthelightofaconceptofjusticesosimpleandsoelementary？
TheManifestowastheclearnegationoftheprincipleofequalityunderstoodsonaivelyandsoclumsily。Whileproclaimingasinevitabletheabolitionofclassesinthefutureformofcollectiveproduction，itexplainstousthenecessity，thebirthandthedevelopmentoftheseveryclassesasafactwhichisnotanexception，oraderogationofanabstractprinciple，buttheveryprocessofhistory。
Evenasthemodernproletariatinvolvesthebourgeoisie，sothelattercannotexistwithouttheformer。Andbotharetheresultofaprocessofformationwhichrestsaltogetheruponthenewmodeofproductionoftheobjectsnecessarytolife，thatistosay，whichrestsaltogetheronthemannerofeconomicproduction。Thebourgeoissocietygrewoutofthecorporativeandfeudalsocietyanditgrewoutofitthroughstruggleandrevolutioninordertotakepossessionoftheinstrumentsandmeansofproductionwhichallculminateintheformation，thedevelopmentandthemultiplicationofcapital。Todescribetheoriginandtheprogressofthebourgeoisieinitsdifferentphases，toexplainitssuccessesinthecolossaldevelopmentoftechniqueandintheconquestoftheworldmarket，andtopointoutthepoliticaltransformationswhichfollowedit，whicharetheexpression，thedefenseandtheresultoftheseconquestsis，atthesametime，towritethehistoryoftheproletariat。
Thelatterinitspresentconditionisinherentintheepochofbourgeoissocietyandithashad，ithas，andwillhaveasmanyphasesasthatsocietyitselfuptothetimeofitsextinction。Theantithesisofrichanpoor，ofhappyandunhappy，ofoppressorsandoppressedisnotsomethingaccidentalwhichcaneasilybeputononesideaswasbelievedbytheenthusiastsofjustice。Stillfurtheritisafactofnecessarycorrelation，oncegrantedthedirectingprincipleofthepresentformofproductionwhichmakesthewageworkeranecessity。Thisnecessityisdouble。Capitalcanonlytakepossessionofproductionbyconvertinglaborersintoproletariansanditcannotcontinuetolive，tobefruitful，toaccumulate，tomultiplyitselfandtotransformitselfexceptontheconditionofpayingwagestothosewhoithasmadeproletarians。
Thelatter，ontheirside，canonlyliveandreproducetheirkindontheconditionofsellingthemselvesaslaborpower，theuseofwhichislefttothediscretion，thatistosay，tothegoodpleasureofthepossessorsofcapital。Theharmonybetweencapitalandlaboriswhollycontainedinthisfactthatlaboristhelivingforcebywhichtheproletarianscontinuallyputinmotionandreproducebyaddingtoitthelaboraccumulatedincapital。
Thisconnectionresultingfromadevelopmentwhichisthewholeinneressenceofmodernhistory，ifitgivesthekeytocomprehendthetruereasonofthenewclassstruggleofwhichthecommunistconceptionhasbecometheexpression，isofsuchanaturethatnosentimentalprotest，noargumentbasedonjusticecanresolveanddisentangleit。
ItisforthesereasonswhichIhaveexplainedhereassimplyaspossiblethatequalitariancommunismremainedvanquished。Itspracticalpowerlessnessblendedwithitstheoreticalinabilitytoaccountforthecausesofthewrongsoroftheinequalitieswhichitdesired，bravelyorstupidly，todestroyoreliminateatablow。
Tounderstandhistorybecamethenceforththeprincipaltaskofthetheoristsofcommunism。Howcouldacherishedidealbestillopposedtothehardrealityofhistory？Communismisnotthenaturalandnecessarystateofhumanlifeinalltimesandinallplacesandthewholecourseofhistoricformationscannotbeconsideredasaseriesofdeviationsandwanderings。OnedoesnotreachcommunismbySpartanabnegationorChristianresignation。Itcanbe，stillmoreitmustbeanditwillbetheconsequenceofthedissolutionofourcapitalistsociety。Butthedissolutioncannotbeinoculatedintoitartificiallynorimportedfromwithout。ItwilldissolvebyitsownweightasMachiavelliwouldsay。Itwilldisappearasaformofproductionwhichengendersofitselfandinitselftheconstantandincreasingrebellionofitproductiveforcesagainsttheconditions（juridicalandpolitical）ofproductionanditcontinuestoliveonlybyaugmenting（throughcompetitionwhichengenderscrises，andbyabewilderingextensionofitssphereofaction）
theintrinsicconditionsofitsinevitabledeath。Thedeathofasocialformlikethatwhichcomesfromnaturaldeathinanyotherbranchofsciencebecomesaphysiologicalcase。
TheManifestodidnotmake，anditwasnotitsparttomakethepictureofafuturesociety。Ittoldhowourpresentsocietywilldissolvebytheprogressivedynamicsofitsforces。Tomakethisunderstooditwasnecessaryabovealltoexplainthedevelopmentofthebourgeoisieandthiswasdoneinrapidsketches，amodelphilosophyofhistory，whichcanberetouched，completedanddeveloped，butwhichcannotbecorrected。（6*）
Saint-SimonandFourier，althoughneithertheirideasnorthegeneraltrendoftheirdevelopmentwereaccepted，foundtheirjustification。Idealistsboth，theyhadbytheirheroicvisiontranscendedthe"liberal"
epochwhichintheirhorizonhaditsculminatingpointattheepochoftheFrenchrevolution。Theformerinhisinterpretationofhistorysubstitutedsocialphysicsforeconomiclawandpolitics，andinspiteofmanyidealisticandpositivisticuncertainties，healmostdiscoveredthegenesisofthethirdestate。Theother，ignorantofdetailswhichwerestillunknownorneglected，intheexuberanceofhisundisciplinedspiritimaginedagreatchainofhistoricepochsvaguelydistinguishedbycertainindicationsofthedirectingprincipleoftheformsofproductionanddistribution。Hethereuponproposedtohimselftoconstructasocietyinwhichtheexistingantithesesshoulddisappear。
Fromalltheseantitheseshediscoveredbyaflashofgeniusandhe，morethananyother，developed"theviciouscircleofproduction"；hethereunconsciouslyreachedthepositionofSismondi，whoatthesameepoch，butwithotherintentionsandalongdifferentroads，studyingcrisesanddenouncingthedisadvantagesofthelargescaleindustryandofunbridledcompetition，announcedthecollapseofthenewlyestablishedeconomicscience。
Fromthesummitofhisserenemediationonthefutureworldoftheharmonianshelookeddownwithaserenecontemptuponthemiseryofcivilizationandunmovedwrotethesatireofhistory。Ignorantboth，becauseidealists，ofthebitterstrugglewhichtheproletariatiscalledupontomaintainbeforeputtinganendtotheepochofexploitationandofantitheses，theyarrivedthroughasubjectivenecessityattheirconclusions，intheonecasescheme-making，intheotherutopianism。Butasbydivinationtheyforesawsomeofthedirectprinciplesofasocietywithoutantitheses。Theformerreachedaclearconceptionofthetechnicalgovernmentofsocietyinwhichshoulddisappearthedominationofmanoverman，andtheotherdivined，foresawandprophesiedalongwiththeextravagancesofhisluxuriantimaginationagreatnumberoftheimportanttraitsofthepsychologyandpedagogyofthatfuturesocietyinwhichaccordingtotheexpressionoftheManifesto，"thefreedevelopmentofeachistheconditionofthefreedevelopmentofall。"
Itisnotinthenameofaschool，butasthepromise，thethreat，andthedesireofapartythatthenewdoctrineofcriticalcommunismpresented。
Itsauthorsanditsadherentsdidnotfeedupontheutopianmanufactureofthefuturebuttheirmindswerefulloftheexperienceandthenecessityofthepresent。Theyunitedwiththeproletarianswhominstance，notasyetfortifiedbyexperience，impelledtooverthrow，atParisandinEngland，theruleofthebourgeoisclasswitharapidityofmovementnotguidedbywell-consideredtactics。ThesecommunistsdisseminatedtheirrevolutionaryideasinGermany：theywerethedefendersoftheJunemartyrs，andtheyhadintheNeueRheinischeZeitungapoliticalorgan，extractsfromwhich，reproducedoccasionallyaftersomanyyears，stillcarryauthority。（7*）Afterthedisappearanceofthehistoricsituationswhichin1848hadpushedtheproletarianstothefrontofthepoliticalstage，thedoctrinesoftheManifestonolongerfoundeitherafoundationorafieldfordiffusion。Manyyearswererequiredbeforeitcirculatedagainandthatbecausemanyyearswererequiredbeforetheproletariatcouldre-appearbyotherroadsandunderothermethodsasapoliticalforceuponthescene，makingofthisdoctrineitsintellectualorgananddirectingitscoursebyit。
ButfromthedaywhenthedoctrineappeareditmadeitsanticipatedcriticismofthatsocialismusvulgariswhichwasflourishinginEuropeandespeciallyinFrancefromtheCoupd’EtattotheInternational；thelattermoreoverinitsshortperiodoflifehadnottimetovanquishandeliminateit。Thisvulgarsocialismfounditsintellectualfood（whennothingevenmoreincoherentandchaoticwasathand）inthedoctrineandespeciallyintheparadoxesofProudhonwhohadalreadybeenvanquishedtheoreticallybyMarx（8*）butwhowasnotvanquishedpracticallyuntilthetimeoftheCommunewhenhisdisciples，anditwasasalutarylessoninaffairs，wereforcedtoactinoppositiontotheirowndoctrinesandthoseoftheirmaster。
Fromthetimeofitsappearance，thisnewcommunistdoctrinecarriedandimpliedcriticismofallformsofStatesocialism，fromLouisBlanctoLassalle。
ThisStatesocialism，althoughmingledwithrevolutionarydoctrines，wasthensummedupintheemptydream，intheabracadabra，oftheRighttoWork。
Thisisaninsidiousformulaifitimpliesademandaddressedtoagovernmentevenofrevolutionarybourgeois。Itisaneconomicabsurdityifbyitismeanttosuppresstheunemploymentwhichensuesuponthevariationsofwages，thatistosayupontheconditionsofcompetition。Itmaybeatoolforpoliticians，ifitservesasanexpedienttocalmashapelessmassofunorganizedproletarians。
Thisisveryevidentforanyonewhoconceivesclearlythecourseofavictoriousproletarianrevolutionwhichcannotproceedtothesocializationofthemeansofproductionbytakingpossessionofthem，thatistosay，whichcannotarriveattheeconomicforminwhichthereisneithermerchandisenorwagelaborandinwhichtherighttoworkandthedutyofworkingareoneandthesame，mingleinthecommonnecessityoflaborforall。
ThemirageoftherighttoworkendedinthetragedyofJune。Theparliamentarydiscussionofwhichitwastheobjectinthesequelwasnothingbutaparody。
Lamartine，thattearfulrhetorician，thatgreatmanforallproperoccasions，hadpronouncedthelast，orthenexttothelastofhiscelebratedphrases，"Catastrophesaretheexperiencesofnations，"andthatsufficedfortheironyofhistory。
ThebrevityandsimplicityoftheManifestowerewhollyforeigntotheinsinuatingrhetoricoffaithorcreed。Itwasoftheutmostinclusivenessbyvirtueofthemanyideaswhichitforthefirsttimereducedtoasystemanditwasaseriesofgermscapableofanimmensedevelopment。Butitwasnot，anditdidnotpretendtobeacodeofsocialism，acatechismofcriticalcommunism，orthehandbookoftheproletarianrevolution。Wemayleaveits"quintessence"totheillustriousDr。Schaeffle，towhomalsowewillinglyleavethefamousphrase，"Thesocialquestionisaquestionofthestomach。"
The"ventre"ofDr。Schaefflehasforlongyearscutafineenoughfigureintheworldtothegreatadvantageofthedilletantiinsocialismandtothedelightofthepoliticians。Criticalcommunism，inreality，scarcelybegunwiththeManifestoitneededtodevelopandithasdevelopedeffectively。
Thesumtotaloftheteachingscustomarilydesignatedbythenameof"Marxism"
didnotarriveatmaturitybeforetheyears1860-70。ItiscertainlyalongstepfromthelittleworkWageLaborandCapital（9*）inwhichisseenforthefirsttimeinprecisetermshowfromthepurchaseandtheuseofthelabor-commodityisobtainedaproductsuperiortothecostofproduction，thisbeingthecluetothequestionofsurplusvalue——itisalongstepfromthistothecomplexandmultipledevelopmentsof"Capital。"
Thisbookgoesexhaustivelyintothegenesisofthebourgeoisepochinallitsinnereconomicstructure，andintellectuallyittranscendsthatepochbecauseitexplainsitscourse，itsparticularlawsandtheantitheseswhichitorganicallyproducesandwhichorganicallydissolveit。
Itisalongstepalsofromtheproletarianmovementwhichsuccumbedin1848tothepresentproletarianmovementwhichthroughgreatdifficultiesafterhavingre-appearedonthepoliticalscenehasdevelopedwithcontinuityanddeliberation。UntilafewyearsagothisregularityoftheforwardmarchoftheproletariatwasobservedandadmiredonlyinGermany。Thesocialdemocracytherehadnormallyincreasedasuponitsownfield（fromtheWorkingmen’sConferenceofNuremberg，1868，toourday。）Butsincethenthesamephenomenonhasasserteditselfinothercountries，undervariousforms。
InthisbroaddevelopmentofMarxismandinthisincreaseoftheproletarianmovementinthelimitedformsofpoliticalaction，hastherenotbeen，assomeassert，analterationfromthemilitantcharacteroftheoriginalformofcriticalcommunism？Hastherenotbeenapassingfromrevolutiontotheself-styledevolution？Hastherenotbeenanacquiescenceoftherevolutionaryspiritintheexigenciesofthereformmovement？
Thesereflectionsandtheseobjectionshavearisenandarisecontinuallybothamongthemostenthusiasticandmostpassionateofthesocialistsandamongtheadversariesofsocialismwhoseinterestitsistogiveanappearanceofuniformitytothespecialdefeats，checksanddelays，soastoaffirmthatcommunismhasnofuture。
WhoevercomparesthepresentproletarianmovementanditsvariedandcomplicatedcoursewiththeimpressionleftbytheManifestwhenonereadsitwithoutbeingprovidedwithknowledgefromothersources，mayeasilybelievethattherewassomethingjuvenileandprematureintheconfidentboldnessofthosecommunistsoffiftyyearsago。ThereisinthemthesoundasofabattlecryandanechoofthevibranteloquenceofsomeoftheoratorsofChartism；
thereisthedeclarationofanew`93withnoroomleftofanewThermidor。
AndThermidorhasre-appearedseveraltimessinceinvariousforms，moreorlessexplicitordisguised，andtheirauthorshavebeensince1848Frenchex-radicals，orItalianex-patriots，orGermanbureaucrats，adorersofthegodStateandpracticallyslavesofthegodMammon，Englishparliamentariansbrokenbytheartificesoftheartofgovernment，orevenpoliticiansundertheguiseofanarchists。ManypeoplebelievethattheconstellationofThermidorisdestinednevertodisappearfromtheheavenofhistory，ortospeakinamoreprosaicfashion，thatliberalism，thatistosayasocietywheremenareequalonlyinlaw，markstheextremelimitofhumanevolutionbeyondwhichnothingremainsbutareturnbackward。Thatistheopinionofallthosewhoseeintheprogressiveextensionofthebourgeoisformoverthewholeworldthereasonandtheendofallprogress。Whethertheyareoptimistsorpessimistshereare，forthem，thecolumnsofHerculesofthehumanrace。
Oftenithappensthatthissentimentinitspessimisticformoperatesunconsciouslyuponsomeofthose，who，withothersunclassified，gotoswelltheranksofanarchism。
Thereareotherswhogofurtherandwhotheorizeupontheobjectiveimprobabilitiesoftheassertionsofcriticalcommunism。ThataffirmationoftheManifestothatthereductionofallclassstrugglestoasingleonecarrieswithinitselfthenecessityoftheproletarianrevolution，wouldseemtothemintrinsicallyfalse。Thatdoctrinewouldbewithoutfoundationbecauseitassumestodrawatheoreticaldeductionandapracticalruleofconductfromtheprevisionofafactwhich，accordingtotheseadversaries，wouldbeasimpletheoreticalpointwhichmightbedisplacedandsetaheadindefinitely。Theassumedinevitablecollisionbetweentheproductiveforcesandtheformofproductionwouldnevertakeplacebecauseitisreduced，astheyclaim，toaninfinitenumberofparticularcasesoffriction，becauseitmultipliesitselfintothepartialcollisionsofeconomiccompetition，andbecauseitmeetswithchecksandhindrancesintheexpedientsandattacksofthegovernmentalart。Inotherwords，ourpresentsociety，insteadofbreakingupanddissolvingwouldinacontinuousfashionrepairtheevilswhichitproduced。EveryproletarianmovementwhichisnotrepressedbyviolenceaswasthatofJune，1848，andthatofMay，18871，wouldperishofslowexhaustionashappenedwithChartismwhichendedintradeunionism，thewarhorseofthisfashionofarguing，thehonorandgloryoftheeconomistsandthevulgarsociologists。Everymodernproletarianmovementwouldberegardedasmeteoricandnotorganic，itwouldbeadisturbanceandnotaprocess，andaccordingtothesecritics，inspiteofourselves，weshouldstillbeutopians。
ThehistoricforecastwhichisfoundinthedoctrineoftheManifestoandwhichcriticalcommunismhassincedevelopedbyabroadanddetailedanalysisoftheactualworld，hascertainlytakenonbyreasonofthecircumstancesinwhichitwasproducedawarlikeappearanceandaveryaggressiveform。
Butitdidnotimply，anymorethanitimpliesnow，eitherachronologicaldatumorapropheticpictureofthesocialorganizationlikethoseintheapocalypsesandtheancientprophesies。
TheheroicFatherDolcinodidnotre-appearwiththepropheticwarcryofJoachinodelFiore。WedidnotcelebrateanewatMü；nstertheresurrectionoftheKingdomofJerusalem。TherewerenotmoreTaboritesnormillenarians。