The Principles of Comunism
by
FREDERICK ENGELS
Principles of Communism was Engels' first draft
of a declarative, defining document for the communist movement. It was
written when Engels was 27, and just prior to the great Europe-wide revolutions
of 1848-9. As such, the passionate certainty of youth, coupled with the
expectant exuberance of the times, results in a piece bursting with confidence,
if not, at times, naivete.
It's an important document from both a historical perspective
as a precursor to the Communist Manifesto, it puts in perspective
Marx's imprint on that document and for its concise presentation of some
basic ideas (later much more fully developed) of "scientific socialism."
ONLINE VERSION: Translation by Paul Sweeney.
Transcribed for the Internet by zodiac@interlog.com (1993).
Back to homepage