Engels died 100 years ago today

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The hundredth anniversary of the death of Friedrich Engels in London

                5th August 1895.


I have posted separately the entry by Gareth Stedman Jones
from A Dictionary of Marxist Thought, as a balanced memorial.

A month ago I invited a debate about the role of Engels. It is clear
there is no major controversy about significant differences between him
and Marx.

One of the elements in the dynamic was Engels's extreme loyalty to Marx.
Generally Engels's readiness to give precedence to Marx is accepted.
It seems to me his generosity may conceal a more complex picture. The
relationship must be seen as a symbiosis both personal and political
Although psychologically it may have felt more comfortable for Marx to be
the front runner, and although "Engelsism" sounds clumsy and would get
misspelt, his contribution to the development of marxism was not that
of a supporting actor.

His profound commitment to absorbing the conditions of the working
class (not least in his loyal relationship to his working class Irish
wife), must have influenced the intensity of the link which he and
Marx emphasised between communism and the working class.

Documents preceding the Communist Manifesto, one discovered only in 1968
make it clear that Engels did the original drafts and in the discussions
in the "Communist League" steered through these versions in preference to
those of Moses Hess, which led to the commission of the Manifesto proper.

In my opinion, Engels was the most attractive of the great Marxists. That
is not a mere accidental detail but has a newly relevant message at a time
when many on the left argue that the personal is also political.

His awareness of the interaction of human activity on the environment is
highly topical.

His great commitment to exploring the links between marxism and
science, even if some of his particular conclusions were wrong, is
relevant again as we seek to reapply marxist ideas to the present chaotic
situation.

Even if the industrial proletariat are not to lead the revolution in
quite the historically inevitable way implied in some of the writings
of Marx and Engels, his commitment to the working class and to the
people in general is still as eloquent.

Marx's body is buried on Highgate Hill overlooking London. Engels wanted
his ashes scattered in the English Channel so the waves would disperse
his atoms round the world. His wish was respected.

His contribution is part of our history.


Chris Burford, London.



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