Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: From Socialism to Communism

1. Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels:From Socialism to Communism “Workers of all lands unite.The philosophers have onlyinterpreted the world in various ways;the point is to change it” Inscription on Karl Marx’s tombstone in London

2. Socialist Origins Christian Socialism Co-operative Movement Trade Unions Utopian Theorisers Early to Mid Nineteenth Century Socialism Revolutionary Socialism Democratic Socialism Marxism Anarchism Socialist Parties

3. Idea of Socialism • Latin: Socius – Companion • Fellowship • Poor, weak and oppressed need • Pooling of resources • Redistribution of wealth • Individual rights subordinated to Common Good • Intra-Inter-Multinational Oppressors • Natural opponent to Nationalism

4. Roots of Socialism • Christian Socialism • Christian Doctrine • Community • Renouncing of personal wealth • Selflessness • Helping the Poor • Sermon on the Mount • Used to justify collectivism • Protestant versus Catholic Competition

5. Roots of Socialism • Trade Unionism • Collective bargaining • Pay and conditions • Artisans Guilds • Horizontal Craft Unions • Industry Wide Unions • Vertical Unions • Variety of ideologies • Working Class base

6. Roots of Socialism • Co-operative Movement • Protect members from being exploited by big business • Manufacturing • Eg Robert Owen • Consumer • Rochdale Pioneers • Agricultural • Peasant farmers agreeing to cooperate

7. Roots of Socialism • Utopian Theorists • French Influence • Inspired by French Revolution • Tainted by French Revolution • Variety of Ideas • Model Communes • Scientifically ordered society free from government interference • State-funded worker controlled industries • Egalitarianism • Harmony

8. Marx: The Early Years • Born in Prussia • Middle class family • Ancestors Rabbis • Although he was baptised a protestant • Doctorate in Materialism & Atheism in Ancient Greece • Hegelian • Joins Young Hegelian Movement at Berlin Uni • Historical Inevitability • Replaces Hegel’s Spirit with Economic Materialism • Rationalist rather than Romantic • Prussians disallow his promotion at the University • Journalist in Cologne • Criticisms of Prussian rulers leads to newspaper’s closure • Flees to Paris, 1843 • Joins socialist groups • Writes his first communist ideas • Economic and Philosophical manuscripts, 1844 • Meets Friedrich Engels

9. Freidrich Engels: The Early Years • Bremen • Wealthy family • Cotton workers with concerns in Belgium and Manchester • Sympathetic with Socialism • Meets Marx in Paris 1843 • Moves to Belgium with Marx 1844 • Joins communist League • 1848 – 1850 helps in Revolutions • 1850 returns to father’s cotton mill in Manchester • Supplies financial support for Karl Marx to undertake studies

10. Marx and the 1848 Revolutions • Belgium 1844 – 1847 • Studies History • London 1847 – 1848 • Joins Communist League • Publishes timely Communist Manifesto • “A Spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of Communism” • “Let the ruling classes tremble” • “The Proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains” • “Working men of all countries, unite!” • Paris and Berlin • Forced to flee back to England

11. Das Kapital • 30 Years of Preparation • Engels provided finance • British Library provided Research Facilities • Dialectical materialism • Aimed to create a Universal Theory of Human Society to complement Darwin’s Natural Theory of Evolution • Mixture of ideas • Materialist History • Feuerbach • Class Struggle • Labour Theory of Value • Saint-Simon • Adam Smith • Dialectical Progress • Hegel • Intellectualy dismissed • Despite scientific rigour • Emotionally Devastating • Quasi-religion for the dispossessed