Summary of The Communist Manifesto

Summary of The Communist Manifesto

By Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1848)

 Core Ideas

1. History as Class Struggle

All history is the history of class struggles between oppressors and the oppressed.

In Marx's time, this was framed as the bourgeoisie (capitalist ruling class) vs. the proletariat (working class).

In feudal times, it was lords vs. serfs; in modern times, capitalists vs. workers.

2. Capitalism and Its Contradictions

Capitalism revolutionised production but also exploited labour and concentrated wealth.

It creates inequality, alienation, and instability, laying the ground for its own downfall.

3. Proletarian Revolution

Marx and Engels call for the working class (proletariat) to unite, overthrow the capitalist system, and seize political power.

The goal is a classless, stateless, and egalitarian society—communism.

4. Abolition of Private Property

Not personal property, but the abolition of private ownership of the means of production (land, factories, etc.)

Calls for collective ownership, free education, progressive taxation, and the end of inherited wealth.

5. Internationalism

The working class has no country—“Workers of the world, unite!”

Opposes nationalism when it serves the ruling elites.

 Using the Marxist Framework to Analyse Ideological Conflict in Ethiopia

Context: Ethiopia's Ideological Divide

Followers of the Old Feudal Regime:

These include conservative elites, centralists, and some monarchist-influenced groups who want a unitary Ethiopia. They often emphasise a centralised state, a glorified past (imperial rule), and cultural homogenization, particularly under Amhara-Habesha hegemony.

Supporters of Federalism (Ethnic Federalists):

They support the current constitutional arrangement, which grants “Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples” the right to self-rule, identity, and secession (Article 39). They argue that it corrects historical subjugation and land dispossession.

 Applying The Communist Manifesto as a Tool

1. Class Struggle → Nation-Nationality Struggle

Marx’s class conflict (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat) can be reinterpreted in Ethiopia as:

> Old imperial elite (centralist, land-owning class) vs. oppressed nations and nationalities (historically marginalised ethnic groups)

The feudal regime and its modern heirs represent the dominant ruling class, while the federalists often speak for the historically exploited peripheries (Oromo, Sidama, Somali, etc.).

2. Superstructure and Ideology

Marx argued that the ruling class controls not only the economy but also culture, religion, and education.

In Ethiopia, centralists have historically imposed a unified identity (Amharan language, Orthodox Christianity, imperial history)—this reflects ideological domination, a key Marxist concern.

3. Economic Base and Exploitation

Feudal landownership in Ethiopia was built on "gabbar" (serf-like) systems, where peasants worked land owned by the imperial class.

Federalism, especially in Oromia and the South, is seen as a movement to reclaim land, language, and dignity, aligning with Marx’s call for the oppressed to regain control over their material and cultural life.

4. Revolution and Resistance

The rise of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in the 1990s, led by Marxist-inspired groups like the TPLF, reflected a partial implementation of revolutionary ideas, mainly through federalism.

However, critics argue that EPRDF institutionalised ethnic division for control, deviating from Marxist ideals of unity and class-based revolution.

 Key Takeaways for Ethiopian Analysis

Marxist Concept Ethiopian Analogy

Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat: The old centralist elites vs. oppressed nations and ethnic groups

Superstructure: The Amhara-dominated national culture, language, and  religion

Class Consciousness Rise of ethnonational awareness among Oromo, Sidama, etc.

Revolution Struggles for federalism, self-determination, and land reform

Internationalism: Federalist resistance to state nationalism and homogenization

✍️ Conclusion

Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto offers a powerful lens through which to understand Ethiopia’s ideological divide. At its heart, the struggle between old feudal forces and federalist movements is not just political—it's about power, history, and who controls the nation's narrative. By applying Marx’s framework, we can see that Ethiopia's conflict is, in many ways, a modern form of class struggle, rooted in colonial-like domination, historical injustice, and the demand for equality and self-rule.