Class Consciousness and Ideology in the Communist Manifesto

Abstract

Class consciousness and ideology are two key concepts within the Marxist theoretical tradition. The prominence of these concepts within Marxism presents something of a paradox, however, for Marx and Engels scarcely mention them in their writings. One text that does contain several theses and claims relevant to the topics of class consciousness and ideology is the Communist Manifesto. A careful reading of this document reveals that Marx and Engels regard several ideas as integral to proletarian class consciousness (contrary to the claim, notably defended by Ralph Miliband, that they refuse to delineate the content of this consciousness). These ideas include the belief that the proletariat and bourgeoisie have antithetical, irreconcilable interests; the belief that private property must be abolished; and the belief that the proletariat must strive, as a class, for self-abolition. As for the topic of ideology, the Manifesto supports the view, forcefully defended by Joseph McCarney, that ideology involves, from the Marxist point of view, thought which serves class interests. A careful reading of the Manifesto not only illuminates the Marxist notions of class consciousness and ideology, but also enables us to understand the status of moral ideas (beliefs, values, principles, etc.) in Marxist political thought: such ideas constitute ideological phenomena and, from a Marxist perspective, positive ideological phenomena, to the extent that the class interests they serve are those of the proletariat.