In the opening  of The Communist Manifesto, authors Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” This quote has influenced nearly every sphere of politics in the modern era, serving as the foundational argument for many of the redistributionist policies promoted by politicians. However, the history of existing society has proven that virtually no conflict is fought purely on the basis of class. 

During World War I, Marx’s theory stated there would be a Europe-wide revolution whereby the proletariat working class would rebel against the middle-class bourgeoisie as a result of the excess wealth of capitalism. Instead, World War I broke out due to ethnic and border disputes; Germans of all economic classes fought against British people of all economic classes. Nonetheless, Marx’s theories regarding class struggle continue to influence politics today. The most prominent communal struggle of all is religion. From the dawn of civilization to the Peace of Westphalia, most conflicts were religious because religion is the most obvious manifestation of a community:  the Crusades, the Sunni-Shia divide, the Babylonian revolts, and thousands more. These conflicts arise from deeply held religious beliefs and the sense of identity and belonging they provide and are seldom tied to economic motivations.

The true driving force behind conflicts is community. If we define community as people who share common interests or values, we can amend Marx and Engels’ theory: “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of community struggles.” Values are deeply ingrained in the fabric of human societies. They dictate individual and collective priorities, guide people’s actions, and shape their worldviews. When individuals or groups with differing values come into contact, conflicts can emerge as a natural consequence of these clashes. While it is undoubtedly true that economic factors can influence conflicts, they are never the pure motivation and it is crucial to recognize that conflicts are fundamentally rooted in values. Understanding the fundamental truth about the nature of conflicts is essential for resolving them effectively and promoting peace and cooperation in a diverse and interconnected world.

Information retrieved from Bard College, Wikipedia, Britannica