27 Mar Global Capitalism and Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels: Manifesto of the Communist Party

Use this text for the introductory essays

Longhofer, W. and Winchester, D. (2012). Social theory re-wired (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Routledge: New York.

First, read the introductory essay located in Section Two of the course text, Social Theory Re-Wired. Then, read the classical theoretical work by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party in Section Two.

Answer the following:

Describe the concepts of capital and globalization presented in the introductory essay.

As they are presented in the introductory essay, do you think Marx’s works are intended to be theoretical interpretations of communism, or was Karl Marx primarily focused on, and an expert in, the workings of capitalism?

The Manifesto of the Communist Party is well-known for its revolutionary zeal, but we often think of the proletariat as the revolutionary force. However, Marx and Engels suggest that the bourgeoisie also came about through revolution. In your own words, explain how the “bourgeoisie played a most revolutionary part.”

In one of the most eloquent passages of the Manifesto, Marx and Engels write: “But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring death to itself; it has also called into existence the men who are to wield those weapons—the modern working class—the proletarians ” What “weapons” are Marx and Engels talking about, and how did the bourgeoisie “call into existence” the proletariat?

Marx and Engels suggest that as capitalism has developed, the bourgeoisiehas sown the seeds of its own destruction. Yet, many critics point to the undeniable fact that capitalism still exists and communism has struggled to survive. Where do you fall? Do you find Marx and Engels’s argument convincing?

Your initial post should be at least 500 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references