The Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe (MEGA) represents the most comprehensive collection of writings by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels available in any language, offering an unparalleled journey into the revolutionary minds that reshaped the understanding of socio-economic structures. This monumental project is dedicated to producing a critical edition of the complete works of Marx and Engels, reproduced from their extant writings and presented in volumes of the highest scholarly standards. These volumes, bound in high-quality paper and durable library binding, serve as a timeless repository of intellectual heritage.
MEGA stands as a scholarly and academic endeavour, adhering to a rigorous historical-critical (historisch-kritische) methodology. Each volume is typically bifurcated into separate text and appendix books, where the latter provides extensive additional information and context on the edited texts. By maintaining the original languages of the materials—predominantly German, but also substantial portions in English and French—MEGA preserves the authenticity and nuance of the original works, enabling a more precise and in-depth scholarly analysis.
The inception of MEGA traces back to the combined efforts of the Institutes of Marxism-Leninism of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in Berlin and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in Moscow, with its first series launched by Dietz Verlag in Berlin in 1975. Following the pivotal political changes marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the responsibility for MEGA’s publication was transferred to the Internationale Marx-Engels-Stiftung (IMES) in Amsterdam. The volumes are now printed and bound by Walter de Gruyter in Berlin, ensuring a continuation of the high production standards set forth by its initiators. Presently, the project is overseen by Gerald Hubmann, marking a significant milestone with the publication of sixty-five volumes so far, including the complete writings related to Das Kapital and most recently, Marx’s ecological writings. The entire collection is projected to encompass 114 volumes.
The endeavor to compile a comprehensive edition of Marx and Engels’ works began with MEGA1 in the 1920s and 1930s, under the aegis of the Marx-Engels Institute in Moscow and led by the Marxist scholar David Riazanov. Despite its initial ambitious plan of 42 volumes, only 12 volumes were published before its cessation in the mid-1930s due to political upheavals and Riazanov’s removal. The revival and continuation of this colossal task in the 1960s culminated in the launch of MEGA2 in 1975, marking a new era of scholarly dedication and international cooperation.
MEGA2 is an extensive compilation divided into four primary sections, reflecting the broad scope and depth of Marx and Engels’ intellectual legacy:
- Abteilung I (Works, Articles, Drafts): This section encompasses the philosophical, economic, historical, and political works, publications, articles, and speeches of Marx and Engels. It includes seminal works like The German Ideology, The Class Struggles in France 1848-1850, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon, Critique of the Gotha Program, and Anti-Dühring. It is set to comprise 32 volumes.
- Abteilung II (Capital and Preliminary Studies): Dedicated to Marx’s magnum opus, Capital: Critique of Political Economy, this section includes all economic works and manuscripts related to it, starting with the Grundrisse from 1857/58. This section, the first to be completed, comprises 15 volumes in 23 books, finalized in 2012.
- Abteilung III (Correspondence): This section contains the complete correspondence of Marx and Engels, including their letters to each other and to third parties, along with the latter’s responses. It will consist of 35 volumes.
- Abteilung IV (Excerpts, Notes, Marginalia): Comprising 32 volumes, this section features the largely unpublished excerpts, notes, and marginalia of Marx and Engels, providing insight into their thought processes and intellectual engagements.
In recent developments, the publication of MEGA has been endorsed by the Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz (federal science conference) of Germany, ensuring continued funding under a revised framework. Future volumes, particularly the letters from 1866 to 1895 in the third section and substantial parts of the fourth section, will be available digitally, enhancing accessibility while retaining the commitment to publish critical volumes in print.
MEGA’s publication is spearheaded by IMES, an international network including the International Institute of Social History, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Karl Marx House of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Trier, and key Russian archives. This collaboration ensures a comprehensive and global approach to preserving and disseminating the works of Marx and Engels.
The critical importance of this exhaustive edition reflects the collaborative efforts of the Central Committees of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. It highlights the urgent need for such a compilation to meet the demands of both scientific inquiry and revolutionary praxis in contemporary times. The enduring influence of Marxist-Leninist theory in societal dynamics and the growing recognition of Marx and Engels’ foundational contributions to scientific communism are situating MEGA as a vital intellectual and historical resource.
The Marx-Engels-Gesamtausgabe (MEGA2) is more than a collection of writings; it is scholarly research into the revolutionary theories that have profoundly influenced modern socio-economic thought and practice. This comprehensive edition not only preserves the intellectual heritage of Marx and Engels but also serves as an indispensable resource for future generations of scholars, historians, and political theorists dedicated to understanding and advancing the transformative ideas of these pioneering thinkers.
Simon Gros 
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