Karl Marx was a prominent 19th century philosopher and economist who laid the foundations for modern socialism and communism. He influenced many revolutionary leaders. The Communist Manifesto, written by Marx and Engels in 1848, outlined the goals of communism and critiqued capitalism. It proposed abolishing private property and implementing a progressive tax. Marxism has remained influential in politics and philosophy in the 20th century, with several countries adopting Marxist policies. Contemporary media theorists draw on Marxist ideas like mediation to examine how mass media affects social relations and audiences. Early Frankfurt School theorists saw media as deceiving audiences and inculcating ruling class values without audiences realizing.