e -- socialism. Marxs proposed socialist society, dubbed communism, would have only one class of people, the proletariat. He further explains that this socialist society will inevitably overcome capitalism because capitalism fosters its own downfall: "What the bourgeoisie, therefore, produces, above all, is its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable." (Marx, The Communist Manifesto, p. 79)Furthermore, unlike uncivilized countries, civilized society capitalism has many people who do not work, for example, the bourgeoisie who consume more goods than those who labor. Yet Smith announces that there is enough for everyone. Marx disagrees:"But in order to oppress a class, certain conditions must be assured to it under which it can, at least, continue its slavish existence The modern laborer instead of rising with the progress of industry, sinks deeper and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class. He becomes a pauper, and pauperism develops more rapidly than population and wealth. And here it becomes evident that the bourgeoisie is unfit any longer to be the ruling class in society because it is incompetent to assure an existence to its slave [the proletariat] within his slavery." (Marx, The Communist Manifesto, p.77-8)Previous class struggles fell for different reasons than capitalism will fall. They grew inadequate for the changing economy and industry. Marx would argue that had these economic changes not occurred, these class struggles may have persisted until today. Capitalism, on the other hand, will undoubtedly fail because of contradictions in the system. Marx explains that the serfs, in the period of serfdom, were able to raise themselves to membership in the commune, much like the early bourgeois was able to develop into the modern bourgeois (of Marxs time) while under feudal absolutism. But, as the bourgeois rise, they further oppress the working class. Th...
