The Communist Manifesto: A Road Map to History's Most Important Political Document

I really enjoy this book and as an American after reading this book it has really change my thought process how I view Communism. Like most Americans, I first view communism how it was portray in American propaganda and the actions of so called Communist states ( China, N korea, Cambodia, USSR and etc) As an authoritarian, totalitarian, and state run society. I thought it was the most evil creation thought out and wanted to get in the mind of the man who most consider to be the philosopher and founder of this ideology. So I pick up the Communist manifesto read it and with the help of Phil Gasper analysis of the english translation that he claims to have been heavily reviewed over by Engels I've come to the conclusion that the dictatorial operated system that America describes as Marxism is not the case but rather the opposite.Marxism is a process of transformation. If you consider yourself a Marxist that means you are a capitalist, socialist and a communist cause all must come in that order to achieve the utopian ideal that Marx was fighting for. I will give a brief summary of the communist manifesto.The communist manifesto starts with the creation of the capitalist society or in Marx time known as the Bourgeoise society. This was a class in the feudal society who were constantly oppress by upper class in feudal rule such as the aristotle, kings, and etc (examples of oppression would be barriers of trade since feudalist didn't believe in free trade). Eventually the Feudal rule was no longer able to sustain itself and was defeated by the Bourgeoise revolutions (examples french revolution). Now as the ruling force in society, The Bourgeoise (known as in modern day term capitalism) in the early stages of the profit generating system develops a rapid speed of growth in production and technological advancement. Ironically, the system will contradict itself with its superfluous development of production, and meet certain economic crises within the cycle which at first will be confronted with intervention but those sort of innovative solutions will only create a deeper hole for more crises until it reaches a point where intervention and solution can no longer solve the continuous crises within the system. At the same time the gap between poor and rich will be apparent creating the source that will destroy the Bourgeoise known as the Proletariat (in Modern terms the workers, social workers, middle class, or any class that counts on their survival by their labor and wages that is determine by the Bourgeoise who controls the mode and means of a particular production. This is why Marx describe the capitalist society as their own grave diggers. As the gap between poor and rich increases, and ownership and money concentrated at the very top, the more the proletariat class becomes more frustrated and realizing the bourgeoise class unwilling attitude to give up power the proletariat begins their own violent revolution just as the bourgeoise did with the feudal system, and over throws bourgeoise society for an economic social change which at this point will begin the transition from Capitalism to socialism.Marx has various definition of Socialism. These are not inclusive but are some from the glossary of the bookCritical-utopian socialism/communism-A set of ideas associated with Claude-Henri de Saint-Simon, Robert Owen, and Charles Fourier. They made incisive criticisms of the brutality of early capitalism but their alternatives consisted in constructing blueprints for an ideal society, or actually setting up small scale communities based on such plans. Marx and Engels criticized them for failing to have a realistic strategy for transforming society and for viewing workers as passive victims rather than as agents capable of fighting for their own emancipation. (According to this Marx and Engels wouldn't have liked the liberal Democrats).Conservative/Bourgeois socialism= A section of the ruling class (Capitalist) who believe that ameliorating some of the problems of the working class, like social reform will cease a workers revolution or use any approach to secure the existence of the Bourgeois class (Capitalist) status as the dominant class. (In this sense Marx and Engels are criticizing both modern day Democrats and Republicans, probably the more moderate Republicans).Socialism= In a more narrow and societal term Socialism is a civilization where the "working class is dominant" and there is "some significant degree of social ownership" or "state control" of the economy, perhaps as a transition to a fully communist , classless society.This is where most people particularly Americans seems to mistake Karl marx theory as a totalitarian state. Yes its true a state can be a source to run a society in a socialist state but the question is who runs the state is determine if its a socialist or authoritarian run state or in economic terms planned economy. In a planned economy you have government officials or Beaurcrats who control the mode of production and make decisions for an entire society. A socialist society again yes you can use the state except the state influence comes from the workers itself since they own the state. Thats why Marx stated socialism as "the Dictatorship of the proletariat" cause in that society the workers or the common people in a cooperative sense are the ones who dictates in that society. Even if the people wanted to elect a representative ahead of the state, the workers will be in a position kick him or her out if they don't like what their elected official is doing. There's no one person or state party telling people what they have to do and when to do it. Its more like a true form of a democratic republic where many can vote on certain things only this time people can really see the effects of their decisions and how it affects the entire society, (which is great cause people can no longer blame one person for their problems when they probably helped vote for that individual into power) since they our the real owners of that society. Their will still be division of labor in a socialist society but it will be less exploitative than a capitalist society.During socialism as the productive force becomes more advance with the help of the superfluous production that was created under capitalism, (This is why capitalism must come first) and as distribution becomes more equal, exploitation is less apparent and people become more cooperative, and have consensus view on certain common goals that effects every one (So communist does not turn people into an ant colony like most critics say it is, certain stuff like laws, information, just anything that effect people as a common whole will be met with consensus solution, not personal or individual settings). So you can do what ever you want so long as it doesn't effect a certain thing that may have a great beneficial attribute to the people in the society as a whole). Anyways with the advancement in these area and fewer exploitation classes begin to dissolve and the state begins to wither away turning into a more communal ownership self govern society at which at that point will be known as a communist society.According to Marx Communism is a form of society in which the means of production are communally owned and in which class divisions have been completely abolished. According to Marx this society will operate according to the principle "From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs. In socialism it was "From each according to their abilities, to each according to their work" Since there was still division of labor within the socialist society. Once the division of labor is eliminated, Then will society live under the Communist principles. This is the final stage within the Marxian economic theory and at this point with the development of the productive force including the technological advances that started off with the capitalist society and started to be evenly distributed in the socialist society, and was consume into full effect in the Communist society (Again this is why Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism must exist in this order) the society will continue to advance in a more steady, sustainable, and collective scale rather than the rapid, unsustainable, and "only a few" scale that comes with Capitalism.As I conclude this was only a brief explanation of the theory and as you can see it still was a long brief description of the theory. I did that cause I feel a lot of people misinterpret Karl Marx Ideology with dictatorship, Chaos, and destruction when it truly hasn't even existing or been practice correctly. The only state that came close to Communism was the Kibbutz society in israel which lasted for 50 years and was doing well until I believe in the 70's when industrial and privatization of property came in affect. I believe thats when they experience their first recession as soon as it transition into more capitalistic principles .In a world global market society thats aggressive towards each other a society like Communism will not work or last long. This is why I believe Marx said the revolution must be a universal instead of a one country society. After reading this book I look at Communism very differently now and recommend every body especially Americans to read it and understand it in the Marxist sense rather just judging the ideology when you haven't even read the philosophical side of it. I recommend this version especially cause Phil Jasper really breaks it down for you.Most critics may say it goes against human nature, but who can really describe how human nature is. Yes I agree with most capitalist about human nature and self perseverance but even to protect self perseverance can go as far as cooperating with one another, not because you want to but because certain crises that is reflected from the actions of the so called human nature such as greed, pride, ambition, and etc can force an individual to think collectively and work with others in order to secure his/her own individuality (If its important to you that I elaborate what I mean just hit me up and i'll explain it to you).I know I said I was concluding so before I leave I would like to say again that never once did this book talk about authoritarian or one party rule as it has been repetitively interpreted throughout most of the world. Instead it was the exact opposite, to me its like a true democratic republic rule with utopian ideals where workers own their society and work in a communal and cooperative sense rather than working for wages and garnering profits for someone who exploits their labor. Most Capitalist will counter argue that and state that profits or surplus value is used to accumulate capital gain to invest in future technological advancement, which would be pointless if you have an unproductive force who won't have the knowledge to use those future production. Well the ruling class will probably have the capability but if they did that then they would only be proofing Marx's point.

Wow. Never in my life have I been able to get through Marx's alleged masterpiece, the Communist Manifesto. Until now. I have read excerpts, read commentaries and analysis on it, but this edition is absolutely the foundation for understanding this work. The on-page, paragraph by paragraph annotations are invaluable in comprehending as you go. Some of the utter shock of reading the Manifesto is to realize that it was published in 1848 and yet most of the ideas and assertions in it are as relevant to today's system of global capitalism as they were to 19th century Europe's. Scarier even, truly, is that Marx and Engels seemed to rather accurately predict the future of capitalism.If I can find an e-mail address or contact info for this edition's editor Phil Gasper, I'm going to thank him profusely for this book.If you've always been somewhat interested in this book, have wanted to read it but been put off by its style and and unfamiliar jargon, this is, without doubt, the version to read. It will open your eyes, you will find yourself, as I just did hours ago, howling expletives, incredulous at its insight and brilliance.

If you are interested in reading The Communist Manifesto, I highly recommend this edition.Gasper provides loads of helpful commentary, a glossary, and much more. Gasper is sympathetic to Marx (and Engels), but this does not color the value of this terrific resource.

In response to the 2-star reviewer, it's fair to wonder how accurate the opinion of someone who cannot spell "Satan" is. Calling Marx a "squanderer", even if it were true, is nothing but a useless ad hominem and has no bearing on the content of the Manifesto. In addition, the reviewer has literally zero understanding of what Communism is or what Marx argued for and against - has the "THE TRUTH" even read the book being "reviewed"? Nobody is "demonizing others" for becoming "successful through their own labors" - that's a silly fiction and straw-man. One of Marx's criticism of Capitalism is it allows some to accumulate enormous wealth through the labors of OTHERS. This is the reality - hardly any better or different than plantation slavery - that "THE TRUTH" should be ranting against.All said, buy this version of the Manifesto - it is the best I know of. Gasper does an awesome job of bringing out its meaning and relevance.

A fascinating topic for my monthly discussion group, trying to figure out a new or different structure that works better for all of us. Marx was prescient. In places, it was like reading a column from a current magazine talking about the 1% and the 99% and the need for a structural change in our government. None of us know exactly what that would look like, but Marx sparked some stimulating discussion about the pro's and con's of capitalism, its rapacious need for ever more, its one up/one down style and its profound impact on the earth and its inhabitants. Good, thought-provoking read!

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This book is TOO GOOD! I'm an average reader but this book has very nice annotation, very nice history background, super-awesome study guides as well. Communism is a very smart concept, its criticism of capitalism is still very relevant even today.This is a nice edition for first reader of the Communist Manifesto. Ya, I was reading it and couldn't put it down for days dammit! :)

This is a very interesting book. The commentary Provides context and explanations of certain passages. The selection of other writings by Marx is an excellent choice, they detail the historical rise of accumulation and the expansion of this form of production. I found that some of the extracts with just a few names changed, could almost explain phenomena that we are seeing in the world today. You will see that events in Russia and other so called communist countries have nothing whatsoever to do with Marx or his writings. If you are looking for an introductory book on Marx, I would highly recommend this book. Well done, Mr. Gasper!