The 10 pillars of Communism
The 10 pillars (or measures) of communism, as outlined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The Communist Manifesto (1848), represent a transitional program designed to move a capitalist society toward a classless, stateless one. They focus on state control of the economy and the abolition of private property, specifically:
- Abolition of property in land: Land ownership is abolished, with all rents applied to public purposes. ⭕1
- Heavy progressive income tax: A high, graduated tax on income. ✅2
- Abolition of inheritance rights: Inheritance is forbidden, preventing the accumulation of private wealth across generations. ⭕
- Confiscation of property: Property belonging to emigrants and rebels is confiscated.
- Centralization of credit: Credit is centralized in the hands of the state via a national bank. ✅
- Centralization of communication/transport: The state controls transport and communication systems. ✅
- Extension of state ownership: Expansion of state-owned factories, tools, and land development according to a common plan. ✅
- Equal obligation to work: Establishment of “industrial armies,” particularly for agriculture.
- Combination of agriculture and manufacturing: Moving toward a balance between town and country to reduce regional differences.
- Free education for all: Universal public education and the abolition of child factory labor. ⭕