Final Answer:
The given statement "True or False: Marx and Engels believed that the flaws of capitalism cause poverty and unemployment" is true because, in their critique of capitalism, Marx and Engels argued that inherent flaws, such as exploitation and economic contradictions, are responsible for the prevalence of poverty and unemployment. They contended that the system's structural issues, including the extraction of surplus value from labor and cyclical economic downturns, contribute to economic inequality and joblessness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marx and Engels, influential figures in socialist thought, asserted that capitalism's flaws lead to societal challenges. The extraction of surplus value, where capitalists accumulate wealth through the exploitation of workers, results in economic disparities.
Furthermore, the cyclical nature of capitalism, involving periods of economic expansion and contraction, contributes to unemployment during downturns as capitalists reduce production and lay off workers.
This cyclical unemployment, according to Marx and Engels, serves as a means to maintain a low-wage workforce and perpetuate the power dynamic between capitalists and workers.
The belief that capitalism's structural issues cause poverty and unemployment is rooted in Marxist theory. Marx and Engels argued that the inherent contradictions within capitalism create an environment where wealth concentration and job insecurity are inevitable. Therefore, the statement accurately reflects their perspective on the negative consequences of the capitalist system. The correct option is True.