Does communism, against all odds, have something useful to contribute to the pressing debate over economic strength, societal well being, and humanity versus the corporation? There are some elements of communist theory that deserve to be rescued from the proverbial dustbin, and that is the purpose of this book. This, however, requires a substantial rethinking of communism, a drafting of a kind of neo-communism from which everything that is impossible and/or undesirable is deleted. This book differs from other books on communism, such as The Passing of an Illusion by Furet, or The Black Book of Communism by Courtois et al., in that it is not a historical account of the the communist experience in some parts of the world. This book examines the original theory and worldview presented by and finds interesting clues to how we might tackle some of the problems that are still inherent in today's capitalist mode of production and work.

One of the world's most influential political manuscripts. Commissioned by the Communist League and written by communist theorists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, it laid out the League's purposes and program. It presents an analytical approach to the class struggle (historical and present) and the problems of capitalism, rather than a prediction of communism's potential future forms.

“If you are curious and open to the life around you, if you are troubled as to why, how and by whom political power is held and used, if you sense there must be good intellectual reasons for your unease, if your curiosity and openness drive you toward wishing to act with others, to ‘do something,’ you already have much in common with the writers of the three essays in this book.” — Adrienne Rich With a preface by Adrienne Rich, Manifesto presents the radical vision of four famous young rebels: Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto, Rosa Luxemburg’s Reform or Revolution and Che Guevara’s Socialism and Humanity.

In this new title in Verso’s Pocket Communism series, Jodi Dean unshackles the communist ideal from the failures of theSoviet Union. In an age when the malfeasance of internationalbanking has alerted exploited populations the world over to theunsustainability of an economic system predicated on perpetualgrowth, it is time the left ended its melancholic accommodationwith capitalism. In the new capitalism of networked information technologies, ourvery ability to communicate is exploited, but revolution is stillpossible if we organize on the basis of our common and collectivedesires. Examining the experience of the Occupy movement, Deanargues that such spontaneity can’t develop into a revolution andit needs to constitute itself as a party. An innovative work of pressing relevance, The Communist Horizonoffers nothing less than a manifesto for a new collective politics.

This modern edition of the political call-to-arms whose “influence has been surpassed only by the Bible” highlights Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ prescient insights on capitalism (Guardian). A Communist Manifesto for the 21st-century reader concerned by the ever-widening wealth gap, the instability of financial markets, and the gradual destruction of the environment. In the two decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall, global capitalism became entrenched in its modern, neoliberal form. Its triumph was so complete that the word “capitalism” itself fell out of use in the absence of credible political alternatives. But with the outbreak of financial crisis and global recession in the twenty-first century, capitalism is once again up for discussion. The status quo can no longer be taken for granted. As Eric Hobsbawm argues in his acute and elegant introduction to this modern edition, in such times The Communist Manifesto emerges as a work of great prescience and power despite being written over a century and a half ago. He highlights Marx and Engels’s enduring insights into the capitalist system: its devastating impact on all aspects of human existence; its susceptibility to enormous convulsions and crises; and its fundamental weakness.

"What is globalization? Here is one of the best answers. It is the 'constant revolutionizing of production' and the 'endless disturbance of all social conditions.' It is 'everlasting uncertainty.' Everything 'fixed and frozen' is 'swept away,' and 'all that is solid melts into air.' Yes, you have read this before. It is from The Communist Manifesto, by Messrs. Marx and Engels."--The New York Times Here, at last, is an authoritative introduction to history's most important political document, with the full text of The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels. This beautifully organized and presented edition of The Communist Manifesto is fully annotated, with clear historical references and explication, additional related texts, and a glossary that will bring the text to life for students, as well as the general reader. Since it was first written in 1848, the Manifesto has been translated into more languages than any other modern text. It has been banned, censored, burned, and declared "dead." But year after year, the text only grows more influential, remaining required reading in courses on philosophy, politics, economics, and history. "Apart from Charles Darwin's Origin of Species," notes the Los Angeles Times, the Manifesto "is arguably the most important work of nonfiction written in the 19th century." The Washington Post calls Marx "an astute critic of capitalism." Writing in The New York Times, Columbia University Professor Steven Marcus describes the Manifesto as a "masterpiece" with "enduring insights into social existence." The New Yorker recently described Karl Marx as "The Next Thinker" for our era. This book will show readers why. Phil Gasper is a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame de Namur University in northern California. He writes extensively on politics and the philosophy of science and is a frequent contributor to CounterPunch.

Neo-Communism and the Future of Socialist Ideology takes readers on a comprehensive journey through the evolution of socialism and communism, exploring their historical roots, ideological transformations, and modern-day influence on global politics. From the groundbreaking theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to the rise of Neo-Communism and progressive movements in the 21st century, this book offers a deep analysis of socialist thought and its relevance in addressing today’s most pressing issues—economic inequality, climate change, and the future of democracy. Through detailed critiques of classical Marxist theory, real-world examples of socialist and communist regimes, and an examination of socialist policies creeping into Western societies, this book provides a nuanced perspective on how these ideologies are reshaping politics and culture in the modern world. Neo-Communism and the Future of Socialist Ideology is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the ideological battles shaping the future of governance, social justice, and global economics. Synopsis Neo-Communism and the Future of Socialist Ideology offers an in-depth exploration of the past, present, and future of socialism and communism. Beginning with a historical analysis of Marxist theory, the book covers the philosophical foundation of socialism, including historical materialism, class struggle, and the vision of a classless society. It provides a thorough critique of Marxism in practice, assessing the successes and failures of socialist regimes throughout history, including the Soviet Union, China, and Cuba. Moving into the contemporary political landscape, the book introduces readers to Neo-Communism, a modern adaptation of Marxism that incorporates concerns about intersectionality, environmental justice, and technology. This exploration is paired with a critique of how socialist and communist ideologies are influencing Western politics—particularly in the United States, where democratic socialism and progressive movements are on the rise, igniting fierce debates in political and cultural arenas. The book also takes a global perspective, examining the resurgence of socialism in regions like Latin America and Africa, where nations are grappling with the legacies of neoliberalism and colonialism. As the world faces ongoing crises such as economic inequality, political polarization, and the climate emergency, Neo-Communism and the Future of Socialist Ideology considers how socialist ideas may offer solutions—or create new challenges—for the global future. Finally, the book addresses the cultural shift towards socialism, exploring how media, entertainment, and grassroots movements are subtly introducing socialist principles into mainstream discourse. By providing a critical overview of these ideological developments, this book offers a roadmap for understanding the ongoing debate between capitalism and socialism and the potential direction of global politics in the 21st century.

The "Manifesto of the Communist Party" was written by Marx and Engels as the Communist League's programme on the instruction of its Second Congress (London, November 29-December 8, 1847), which signified a victory for the followers of a new proletarian line during the discussion of the programme questions. When Congress was still in preparation, Marx and Engels arrived at the conclusion that the final programme document should be in the form of a Party manifesto (see Engels' letter to Marx of November 23-24, 1847). The catechism form usual for the secret societies of the time and retained in the "Draft of a Communist Confession of Faith" and "Principles of Communism," was not suitable for a full and substantial exposition of the new revolutionary world outlook, for a comprehensive formulation of the proletarian movement's aims and tasks. See also "Demands of the Communist Party in Germany," issued by Marx soon after publication of the Manifesto, which addressed the immediate demands of the movement. Marx and Engels began working together on the Manifesto while they were still in London immediately after the congress, and continued until about December 13 when Marx returned to Brussels; they resumed their work four days later (December 17) when Engels arrived there. After Engels' departure for Paris at the end of December and up to his return on January 31, Marx worked on the Manifesto alone. The first edition of the Manifesto was a 23-page pamphlet in a dark green cover. In April-May 1848 another edition was put out. The text took up 30 pages, some misprints of the first edition were corrected, and the punctuation improved. Subsequently this text was used by Marx and Engels as a basis for later authorised editions. Between March and July 1848 the Manifesto was printed in the Deutsche Londoner Zeitung, a democratic newspaper of the German emigrants. Already that same year numerous efforts were made to publish the Manifesto in other European languages. A Danish, a Polish (in Paris) and a Swedish (under a different title: "The Voice of Communism. Declaration of the Communist Party") editions appeared in 1848. The translations into French, Italian and Spanish made at that time remained unpublished. In April 1848, Engels, then in Barmen, was translating the Manifesto into English, but he managed to translate only half of it, and the first English translation, made by Helen Macfarlane, was not published until two years later, between June and November 1850, in the Chartist journal The Red Republican. Its editor, Julian Harney, named the authors for the first time in the introduction to this publication. All earlier and many subsequent editions of the Manifesto were anonymous.