KARL MARX (1818–83) and Friedrich Engels (1820–95), revolutionaries. “The Communist Manifesto” had little influence at its time of publication during the 1848 revolutions in Europe but has since become the most influential pamphlet of the nineteenth century. The short extracts printed below point to the international nature of capitalism and the way in which capitalism has, allegedly, undermined the notion of nationality – although it might be argued that the actual history of the last century and a half suggests that capitalism is more likely to promote than to undermine nationalist sentiment.
From “The Communist Manifesto”
[“The Communist Manifesto” is one of the most famous documents in world history. Two aspects of this document are of particular interest to students of international political theory. First is Marx and Engels' description of capitalism as a “world-system” – this description was certainly overstated at the time, but chimes well with our current concerns about globalization.]
The discovery of America and the voyages round Africa provided fresh territory for the rising bourgeoisie. The East Indian and Chinese market, the colonisation of America, the colonial trade, the general increase in the means of exchange and of commodities, all gave to commerce, to sea transport, to industry a boost such as never before, hence quick development to the revolutionary element in a crumbling feudal society.
But markets were ever growing and demand ever rising. Even small-scale manufacture no longer sufficed to supply them. So steampower and machinery revolutionised industrial production.
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