Communism is an ideology that is opposed to capitalism and advocates for public ownership of property and distribution of goods based on individual needs rather than class. It developed from socialist thought and was envisioned by Karl Marx as the final stage after primitive communism, slave empires, feudalism and capitalism. While communist governments historically established single-party rule intended to provide equality, in practice the ruling party accumulated most wealth and resources.

1. Communism

2. Ideologies In some ways communism represents an idea as opposed to a form of government It is opposed to capitalism rather than democracy

3. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Father of communist thought Posited that communism would be the final stage in society. Progression would be: primitive communism; slave-based empires; feudalism; capitalism; communism

4. Socialism Communism, politically, considered to be a branch of socialism Definition: the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole

5. Communism Defined advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and need Classless societies Rise of the proletariate

6. Communism is Recent History Defined by a single-party rule That party is all powerful and is supposed to provide equality to all peoples In reality, the party got the “lion share” of the wealth Most modern communist countries use a form of democracy