Karl Marx's The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte is a seminal work of political analysis that examines the rise of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) and his 1851 coup d'état in France. Marx explores the dynamics of class struggle and the interplay of historical forces that led to this moment.

The work's title references Napoleon Bonaparte's coup of 1799, drawing parallels between the two events. Marx argues that history often repeats itself, "the first time as tragedy, the second as farce." He critiques Louis-Napoleon's use of populism and manipulation of state power to consolidate his rule, highlighting how he exploited divisions within the bourgeoisie, the weakness of the proletariat, and the disarray among other classes.

Marx provides a materialist analysis of the political and economic conditions of the time, emphasizing the importance of class structures and interests in shaping historical outcomes. He critiques the bourgeois republic for failing to address the needs of the working class and paving the way for Bonaparte's authoritarian regime. The work underscores the cyclical nature of class conflict and the limitations of revolutionary potential in the absence of proletarian class consciousness and organization.