The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte

"The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte" by Karl Marx analyzes how Napoleon III's rise to power in 1851 was shaped by complex political and social factors. Marx compares this event to the 18th of Brumaire (a French Revolutionary date) to illustrate how a combination of class struggles, political miscalculations, and historical conditions enabled Louis Bonaparte to seize power through a coup. Marx emphasizes the role of beneath-the-surface class interests and political dynamics, showing that Napoleon's ascent was not purely personal but influenced by broader societal forces and contradictions within France’s political system.