The „Fundamental Principles of Communist Production and Distribution“ were composed as a reaction to the unfavorable trajectory of the Russian Revolution. In this work, the authors laid out, for the first time, the economic foundations necessary for constructing and structuring a society founded on the cooperation of free and equal individuals.
Simultaneously, they carefully analyzed past efforts of the workers‘ movement, critiquing them while highlighting essential new directions. Their critique has retained its original significance. The first German edition of the „Fundamental Principles“, released in 1930, was seized and mostly destroyed. A thoroughly revised and enhanced version appeared in Dutch in 1931, initially in excerpts, followed by a full book edition in 1935. The text of the first German edition was reprinted in 1970 and subsequently translated into English and French. However, the extensively revised and refined second edition in Dutch remained largely unnoticed for 85 years. This English translation of the second edition finally brings it to light.