The Communist Manifesto (Das Kommunistische Manifest), originally titled Manifesto of the Communist Party is a short 1848 publication written by the political theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It has since been recognized as one of the world’s most influential political manuscripts. Commissioned by the Communist League, it laid out the League’s purposes and program. It presents an analytical approach to the “class struggle” (historical and present) and the problems of capitalism, rather than a prediction of communism’s potential future forms.
The book contains Marx and Engels’ theories about the nature of society and politics, that in their own words, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”. It also briefly features their ideas for how the capitalist society of the time would eventually be replaced by socialism, and then eventually communism. [from Wikipedia, who also provide links to copies of the work available for free in various formats]
And why should geoists read this book? As PEBC convenor Bob Matter puts it “We are reading it because it was highly influential, to discover what parts Marx and Engels might have gotten right, what parts they got wrong, and to better understand why communism failed every place it was tried.”
The Political Economy Book Club is open to everyone who has read the subject work, without charge (though donations for refreshments and to help pay the rent are gratefully accepted.) Meets 6 PM Thursday November 8, at the Henry George School, 30 E Adams #1207. RSVP appreciated to Bob Matter; email him or call 312 450 2906 for further information.