In 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels released The Communist Manifesto. It was a radical call for revolution that sought to dismantle and replace the existing social order with a classless society. Though it was a relatively short document, its influence would reverberate through history, inspiring revolutions, shaping governments, and leaving a path of destruction.
But how was it received when it was first published?
The First Response
1848 was a time of political unrest, economic hardship, and growing discontent with the ruling class. Marx and Engels had capitalized on this moment by providing a blueprint for revolution.
How Was It Received?
- Among Radicals: Leftist intellectuals, labor organizers, and revolutionaries welcomed it as an intellectual justification for the violent overthrow of governments.
- Among Governments: European rulers saw it as a threat. Many tried to suppress any movements before they gained traction.
- Among the General Public: While a provocative document, many working-class individuals still valued religion, family, and national identity.
It did not instantly lead to a Marxist revolution. Instead, its ideas simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the right political conditions.
The First Sparks
Shortly after The Communist Manifesto’s publication, revolutions erupted across Europe. France, Germany, Austria, and Italy saw mass uprisings demanding political and economic change. Marx saw these revolutions as early signs of capitalism’s collapse, though most of them did not achieve lasting change.
Yet, Marxist ideology found a foothold in underground socialist movements, trade unions, and radical political groups. Over the next decades, socialist and communist parties began forming across Europe, spreading the seeds of future revolutions.
From Fringe to Power
1. The Russian Revolution (1917)
The most infamous application of Marxism came with Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Lenin took Marx’s ideas and adapted them into Leninism. This adaptation led to the overthrow of Russia’s monarchy. It also resulted in the establishment of the Soviet Union. The result?
- Mass executions of political enemies
- The persecution of Christians and religious institutions
- Forced collectivization, leading to widespread famine
- The creation of a totalitarian police state
The adoption and application of Marxism led to dictatorship.
2. Mao’s China (1949-1976)
Inspired by Marxism, Mao Zedong led a communist revolution in China, implementing policies that led to:
- The deaths of an estimated 45 million people during the Great Leap Forward
- The destruction of Chinese culture and traditions during the Cultural Revolution
- Strict government control over speech, religion, and economy
Again, Marxist ideals resulted in death, oppression, and suffering—not utopia.
3. Other Communist Regimes
- Cuba (1959): Fidel Castro imposed communism, leading to economic ruin and political oppression.
- Cambodia (1975-1979): The Khmer Rouge, inspired by Marxist ideology, murdered nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s population.
- Venezuela (1999-Present): Socialist policies have plunged the once-prosperous nation into extreme poverty and dictatorship.
Everywhere The Communist Manifesto was put into practice, it did not lead to liberation—it led to enslavement, economic collapse, and mass death.