The publication of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in January 1848, marks an extremely important moment in socialist history. So well written and persuasively argued is the document, that both its profound effect on global society at the time, and its lasting historical impact, were virtually assured from the moment of its printing. Marx and Engels were commissioned to write the Manifesto by the London centre of the Communist League for use as the organisation's definitive statement of beliefs and aims.

Marx, Prussian-born on May 5, 1818, studied philosophy and law at the University of Berlin. His views were heavily influenced by Hegelian philosophy, and the writing of Ludwig Feuerbach . In 1843, Marx moved to Paris and began to associate with communist societies of French and German workingmen. Whilst in France, Marx worked on the German-French Yearbooks, which led to meeting fellow contributor Friedrich Engels, who was to become his lifelong collaborator.

Engels, Prussian-born on November 28, 1820, dropped out a year before finishing high school, and privately developed an interest in liberal and re

Another suspect claim is that during the revolution, the aristocracy would become frightened and submit to the proletariat. In the past virtually all uprisings against a ruling class have been met with swift and often brutal military retaliation. There is no evidence to suggest that they would back down without a major civil war being fought. Also, years of oppression and cruelty at the hands of the aristocracy and military left many of the poorer classes extremely unwilling to wage war against them. They were fully aware that the upper classes held huge advantages when it came to sophistication of weaponry, organisation and resources. For Marx to simply rely on the spirit of the proletariat, coupled with their use of (his vague concept of), "... the weapons produced by the bourgeoisie,"4 is far too optimistic. These are crucial areas of his theory and he does not back them up with much more than wishful thinking, cleverly disguised in effectual, emotive rhetoric.

Overall the document highlights the emergence of the bourgeoisie, which in turn caused the further impoverishment of the proletarians. It then states that the ever-expanding capitalist market will itself, pave the way for a working class revolution which will abolish the old regime. Marx's materialistic conception of history is demonstrated by his belief that the history of all societies is based upon class struggles1, and that the current situation is that of "... two great classes directly and mutually opposed- bourgeoisie and proletariat."4 Marx then maps the evolution of the bourgeoisie from small traders in the old feudal system, through the industrial revolution where they emerged as "... industrial millionaires, the generals of whole industrial armies."4

The Communist Manifesto was written in a period of social unrest, both in Germany and abroad. Germany was reaching the end of Vormarz (Pre-March), the period between 1815-48, where conservative, restorationist politics were imposed by Prince Metternich of Austria. Towards the end of this era, however, liberal thinkers had begun to voice their disapproval at the old order3. The immediate lead up to the publication of the Manifesto saw severe conditions for Germany's working class, leading to criminality and periodic revolt. Such revolutions include the Silesian weavers' rising of 1844, the

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