The Concept of Class in Marx and Engels: A Study of the German Ideology and the Communist Manifesto

The concept of class occupies a central place in the social and historical thought of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Yet their understanding of class is not presented as a single, fixed definition in either The German Ideology or The Communist Manifesto. Instead, it arises from their examination of material production, labour division, property dynamics, social conflict, and historical evolution. This article explores how the idea of class is reflected in these two significant texts through a qualitative analysis of the content and concepts presented. It contends that The German Ideology lays the groundwork for understanding class emergence by linking social relations to production development, labour division, and ownership rights. Conversely, The Communist Manifesto offers this understanding in a more immediate and historically specific manner by analysing the bourgeoisie, proletariat, and class conflict. The study highlights a notable consistency between both works. In both works, class is not merely defined as a group based on income or profession but as a social relation shaped by historically established production and property relations. Moreover, The Communist Manifesto sharpens this concept politically by framing class struggle as a pivotal agent of historical change. Thus, a comparative analysis of the two texts reveals both continuity and evolution in Marx and Engels' views on class.