Manifesten

Manifesten are public declarations of principles, goals, and proposed actions issued by a group, organization, or movement. In Dutch usage, the plural form leveren the sense of multiple such statements. They are typically designed to persuade a broad audience, recruit supporters, or articulate a clear program for change.

Manifesten appear in various domains, most notably politics and social movements, but also in art, literature, and digital culture. Political manifesten may outline a party’s platform, critique the status quo, and demand reforms or outright revolution. Artistic and literary manifestos seek to redefine practices, aesthetics, or ethics within a field. In recent times, digital rights, open science, and other modern currents have produced manifestos as online documents or pamphlets.

Common elements often found in manifesten include a preface or diagnosis of the current situation, a set of core principles or values, concrete demands or programs, and a call to action. They vary in length and tone, from concise and polemical to systematic and theoretical. Some manifesten become influential foundational texts, shaping discourse and policy for years, while others have limited impact or fade quickly.

Historical and notable examples include the Communist Manifesto (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the Surrealist Manifesto (1924) by André Breton, and various feminist or environmental manifestos. In Dutch contexts, manifesten continue to circulate in political debates and cultural discussions, serving as concise statements of intent and rallying points for movements or groups.

Etymology: manifest from French manifeste, via Latin manifestus, meaning clear or evident.