The Proletariat in Marx and Engels' Critique of Capitalism, 1842–1848

Abstract

Marx and Engels’ development during the 1840s is often approached by comparing their main theoretical work before and after 1846. Yet Marx and Engels were both active participants in political movements building up to the revolutionary wave which swept across Europe in 1848–49. This political context, and their personal belief in the political importance of the proletariat, are essential for understanding why Marx and Engels followed their chosen lines of research. As early as 1843, both men see the proletariat's potential as a revolutionary group and seek to develop this relationship further in their writings. For this reason, it is necessary to interpret Marx and Engels’ works and theoretical shifts during 1842–1848 in the context of their broader political development focused on the proletariat's role in the coming revolutions. This context shapes their prominent theoretical works, highlighting the strategic principles that they developed in their activist-oriented writings.