Communism is a political ideology that advocates for a classless society where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. The concept of communism originated from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century, as outlined in their famous work, "The Communist Manifesto." They argued that society's history was a history of class struggles, and that the proletariat, or working class, would eventually rise up against the bourgeoisie, or capitalist class, to establish a communist society.
Communism is often associated with the theory of Marxism, which posits that societal change comes about through the struggle between different classes within society. Marx and Engels believed that capitalism, the economic system where private individuals or businesses own capital goods, was inherently exploitative. They argued that the working class was not receiving a fair share of society's wealth and that the capitalist system would eventually self-destruct and be replaced by communism.
In a communist society, there is no private ownership; instead, all property is owned communally, and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs. This is in stark contrast to a capitalist society, where wealth and power are often concentrated in the hands of a small number of individuals or corporations.
The first major implementation of communism as a form of government occurred after the Russian Revolution in 1917, when Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party overthrew the Russian Provisional Government. This led to the formation of the Soviet Union, which became the world's first communist state. The Soviet Union's form of communism, however, diverged from Marx's vision, as it was characterized by a single-party rule, state ownership of industry, and repression of political dissent.
Throughout the 20th century, other countries, including China, Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea, also adopted forms of communism, each with its own unique characteristics. However, many of these regimes have been criticized for human rights abuses, economic inefficiencies, and lack of political freedoms.
Despite these criticisms, communism has also been praised for its focus on equality and its critique of capitalist exploitation. It has inspired numerous social and political movements around the world and continues to be a significant ideology in contemporary politics. However, no country has achieved the classless, stateless society that Marx and Engels envisioned. Today, many countries that once had strictly communist economies have incorporated elements of market economies, creating a hybrid system often referred to as "market socialism."
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