by Karl Marx
First published 1848
Marx and Engels present their theory that labor generates all wealth while capitalism exploits workers and restricts freedom. They develop the principles of dialectical materialism to explain how economic systems shape society. Published just before the 1848 European revolutions, their compact treatise argues that the working class must unite to transform the existing order. The authors trace the development of class struggle throughout history and predict the inevitable collapse of capitalist society. Their analysis connects economic theory to political action, showing how material conditions drive social change. This edition features commentary by Gareth Stedman Jones, a prominent Marx scholar, who explains the text's historical significance and contemporary relevance. The introduction provides context for students approaching this influential work for the first time.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, economics, non-fiction, 19th-century, activism, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: political-commentary
Setting: Europe
Period: 1848, 19th-century
42 pages · Paperback · Independently published