Communism is a political and economic ideology whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a classless, stateless communist society.

The theoretical foundations of modern communism were laid out by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century.

Their most famous work, 'The Communist Manifesto,' describes history as a struggle between social classes.

Marxist theory argues that capitalism is an exploitative system that will inevitably be overthrown by a proletarian (working-class) revolution.

The revolution would be followed by a 'dictatorship of the proletariat,' a transitional socialist state.

The first successful communist revolution took place in Russia in 1917, led by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party.

After World War II, communism spread to Eastern Europe, China, and other parts of the world, often with the backing of the Soviet Union.

Communist states were characterized by one-party rule, a centrally planned command economy, and the suppression of political dissent.

In practice, communist regimes were responsible for widespread human rights abuses and economic failures.

Most communist regimes collapsed in the late 20th century, most notably the Soviet Union in 1991.