Marx Engels 100 years

Marx Engels 100 years (by Tetsuzo Fuwa /1996/ Shinnihon Shuppansha)

The author recommends comparing Japan with Japan at the time in order to understand the era in which Marx and Engels lived.
When Engels wrote his first paper at the age of 18, Japan was in the Edo period. It was around the time of ''Kin-san of Toyama'' (a famous historical drama in Japan).

''Kin-san of Toyama''(credit: Toei)

When Marx was first translated into Japan, the translators at the time translated it as "独裁 (dictatorship of the working class)" It is still used in anti-communist attacks to this day. Currently, the translation has been changed to "執権 (auctoritas (auctoritas))".
The power of the working class has nothing to do with dictatorship.
It was Stalin who carried out the dictatorship incorrectly, and he had hardly read Marx.

The author read a lot of philosophy books when he was a student, but he never understood the meaning of them. the author thought. "Why do you make things so difficult?"
Later, when he read the books of Marx and Engels, he said that they were very clear and easy to understand.

Marx invented the word "capitalism".
Economists before Marx recognized capitalism as a given, so there was no need to think of a name for the current social system.

The author says. "When we discuss history in Japan, we divide it according to emperor. History cannot be understood in this way."
Marx studied the history of countries around the world. He was also knowledgeable about Japanese history.

The long working hours that Marx pointed out still continue in Japan today.
Furthermore, the Liberal Democratic Party is fierce in its anti-communist attacks, but it is unable to hold discussions when facing major powers such as the United States and Russia.

When Marx died, Engels considered it his mission to publish Volumes 2 and 3 of Marx's unpublished Das Kapital, and devoted his life to his work.

Both Marx and Engels participated in revolutionary movements day after day, knowing that their research would be delayed.
This is where these two differ greatly from other philosophers.

The author describes the research of Marx and Engels in this way."Comprehensive research based on a vast array of social and historical facts."

Anti-communist attacks by powerful people around the world have been extremely fierce since Marx and Engels was alive.All the time, the two had to fight this dastardly attack.

A common anti-communist attack is,
''If we become communism, we will lose our freedom.
If we become communism, our property will be confiscated.''

If you read the literature of Marx and Engels, you will immediately realize that this is a lie.

However, even in Japan, anti-communist attacks have continued ever since Japan's defeat to the present day.
When a conservative, right-wing, or cult party yells, "He's a Communist Party!" even if it's unfounded, many Japanese get scared and stop voting for liberals and leftists, or abstain from elections.

Marx and others say:
"There must be no imposition of ideology. There must be no censorship. For workers, freedom is a condition of survival. Society needs freedom."
In addition, individuals' private property is guaranteed.
In communism, large-scale means of production are made into cooperatives. However, Engels wrote in his article, "If someone wants to continue with private business, we will respect that and wait until the time is right.''

Still, the governments of various capitalist countries took various measures, such as having the police forge documents and giving slush funds to critics to attack Marx and others.

When Marx died, Engels said this at his funeral:
"Marx was the most hated and slandered man by the ruling class because he devoted his life to the liberation of the working class.
Governments of various countries exiled him, and rich people slandered him.
No one has been subjected to more intense attacks and vilification than Marx. ”

*All quotes from Marx and Engels are accompanied by the original text.