POL 101: Introduction to Political Science
Manchester CC, Stuvland
Essay Assignment #2
Critical Response to Marx’s The Communist Manifesto
The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to summarize and critically analyze a text
that we’ve read and discussed. The required readings for this writing assignment are Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto, and an article by Karl Marx titled “Wage Labour and
Capital,” and excerpts from Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations. Your essay must be consistently
formatted, be between 750 and 1000 words, and include your name, date, the course information,
and list your favorite movie of all time.
Please email this essay to me prior to 11:59pm on May 1st (Sunday). My email is:
AStuvland@txcc.commnet.edu (Ideally attach it as a WORD file or PDF).
Your paper should focus on ONE of the following sets of questions:
1) Explain the argument presented by Marx and Engels in The Communist Manifesto. What is
capitalism? How does it work? What economic conditions has capitalism created? What is the
function of the proletariat in a capitalist economy, and what political role does the proletariat
take on? Why does the proletariat oppose capitalism? According to Marx, how will this epic
confrontation between the proletariat and the capitalist class be resolved? And finally, will
humanity be better off under communism?
2) When Marx looks at capitalism he sees exploitation. When Smith looks at capitalism he sees
opportunity, innovation, economic development, and technological progress. Similarly, when
Marx considers the division of labor in capitalist economies, he sees the increased alienation of
the worker from the product that he or she produces. And, when Smith discusses the division of
labor, he sees increased productivity and efficiency at the level of the factory and society. Who
is right? Or are there accurate/useful observations made by both? If so, which ones do you find
most compelling?
3) Capitalism creates significant inequalities of wealth and income, and consequently, some
individuals and organizations have far greater resources than others. How does this situation
affect the functioning of a democratic political system? Do you agree with Marx that a capitalist
democracy is an impossibility because capitalism undermines true democracy? What does the
presence of many capitalist democracies today imply for Marx’s conjecture?
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