Compare And Contrast Communist Manifesto And Karl Marx

Nathan Patterson

Professor McCarthy

Core-145 Paper

April 5, 2023

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx ad Friedrich Engles and The Problem of Poverty by Abraham Kuyper are two economically motivated works written in the 19th century. For one to understand the ideas presented in each of these works, one must understand western culture during the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was at its peak, and the average man’s life has changed drastically over the last century. The small shops were replaced with large factories, individual craftsmen were replaced with assembly lines, and people flocked to the big cities to find work. Big cities soon became engulfed with millions of people all wanting to find work, providing owners of factories

Marx and Engles describe the ruling class as “the bourgeoise” and explain that in modern society they have risen into power and have created new classes and new forms of oppression (Marx, 14). Kuyper also understands that society has fallen into an economic choke, he explains that of the members of Congress he gathered none of them are economic experts but are all followers of Christ and he asks, “What should we, as confessors of Christ, do about the social needs of our time?” (Kuyper, 17). Both Marx and Kuyper agree on the issue at hand, poverty, and they agree that something must be done, where they differ is in their solutions. Starting with Marx and Engles we see they describe the tool “the bourgeoise” used to rise to power as the same tool that can be used to destroy them, the working class (Marx, 20). For the communists, the first task is to have the working class raise themselves to the ruling class, which can be done through democratic means. From there the working class will take away all capital from the bourgeoisie (Marx, 34). Marx and Engles believe that personal property is a right and from the Industrial Revolution the bourgeoise destroyed all common peoples right to obtain property, so they will take it back from them (Marx, 28). After describing the first step of the communists’ plan Marx outlines what else will need to be done. A heavily increased tax, removal of

His solution was a faith-based approach that looked at the individual instead of the system. Kuyper begins by saying that the inequality we see in the world is a result of sin and it has created a world where the strong devour the weak as if we were animals (Kuyper, 25). Kuyper then looks at the teachings of Jesus to show us why a revolution cannot work. He explains that we are to submit to authority rather than revolt and explains that our revenge shall come not in revolution but when the greedy burn everlasting and we are saved by our Lor (Kuyper, 30). Rather than overthrow the system Kuyper wants us to lead by personal example, and to organize the church. Kuyper goes through historical examples where society was able to change such as the abolition of slavery to demonstrate his point that change needs to be made to the individual. He calls for everyone to show more compassion for their fellow man and to help with charitable works for those who are struggling (Kuyper, 32-36). Kuyper finishes The Problem of Poverty by criticizing socialism and communism by saying that they believe that revolution is something that must come to fortition and cannot be avoided, they do not see a compassionate solution only a radical one (Kuyper