In 1848, Europe itself stood on the threshold of a series of democratic revolutions which would shake the old Absolutist order, but could not yet bring the working class to power. Regardless of its date of publication, the Communist Manifesto is still very much a vital weapon in the arsenal of revolutionaries all over the world.Īrguably, in its message the Communist Manifesto is even more relevant today than when it was written. Although a few references to political figures of the time and some (but not all) of the concrete political demands put forward at the end of chapter 2 have been superseded by events, the great bulk of the text feels as if it could have been written only yesterday, with its explanation of the crushing power of the capitalist world market, the commodification of the labour and abilities of human beings, and the ever-growing divide between the rich and poor. Despite being written almost 170 years ago, the ideas, method, and political lessons contained within it remain remarkably fresh. Unlike many other works of the time, the Communist Manifesto remains one of the most influential works of literature ever published. Commissioned by the Communist League in London and written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1847-1848, this pamphlet set out the fundamental principles and tactics of the nascent Communist movement of the period, the “spectre” haunting all of Europe.

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