UPSC Prelims 2006 Q51: Modern History – Revolutionary & Communist Movements
Who among the following wrote “The Communist Manifesto” along with Karl Marx?
- (a) Emile Durkheim
- (b) Friedrich Engels
- (c) Robert Owen
- (d) Max Weber
Answer: (b) Friedrich Engels
Explanation
Co-author of The Communist Manifesto
| Person | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Emile Durkheim | French sociologist, founder of sociology as a discipline |
| Friedrich Engels | Co-author with Karl Marx of the Manifesto (1848) |
| Robert Owen | Welsh utopian socialist and cooperative pioneer |
| Max Weber | German sociologist, author of *The Protestant Ethic* |
The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848, was written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Answer: (b) Friedrich Engels.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Emile Durkheim was a sociologist who did not write the Manifesto.
- (b) CORRECT. Friedrich Engels co-wrote *The Communist Manifesto* with Karl Marx.
- (c) Incorrect. Robert Owen was a utopian socialist, not the Manifesto's co-author.
- (d) Incorrect. Max Weber was a sociologist who came after Marx and Engels.
Key point
Friedrich Engels co-authored The Communist Manifesto (1848) with Karl Marx.
Remember
The Communist Manifesto: Marx and Engels.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Engels with other socialist thinkers like Owen.
- Attributing the Manifesto to the sociologists Durkheim or Weber.
- Forgetting that the Manifesto dates from 1848.
Exam tip
Marx and Engels: Manifesto 1848; Marx alone: Das Kapital.
Sources
- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels — The Communist Manifesto (1848)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Friedrich Engels