The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State

Brief Overview

Friedrich Engels' book, «The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State», explores the development of human society from primitive communism to class society. Engels analyzes how changes in the economy and productive forces led to the transformation of family structures, the emergence of private property, and the formation of the state. He examines the evolution of the family from matriarchy to patriarchy, emphasizing the role of economic factors in these processes. Engels argues that the state arose as an instrument of class oppression, serving the interests of the ruling class. The book offers a Marxist perspective on history, highlighting the inevitability of class struggle and the necessity of socialist revolution to achieve equality and justice.