The course involves a systematic study of the political and social thought of Marx and Engels, from 1843 to the death of the two authors in 1883/1895. We will examine their relation to Hegel and British political economy, as well as to major followers like Rosa Luxemburg, Lenin, Lukacs and Gramsci. The texts will be chosen with contemporary relevance in mind. Students will be asked to report on the assigned texts during each session, and to produce a 15 to 20 page paper in general based on that presentation and the following discussion.