Communism

Communism is a political and economic ideal of a classless society in which productive resources are commonly owned. It also names movements and systems that have pursued or claimed that ideal.

Karl Marx: A nineteenth-century philosopher and political economist whose writings shaped modern communist theory. His critique of capitalism and account of class struggle became central to communism.
Social democracy: A political tradition that combines democratic government and market economies with extensive social protections and regulation. Unlike communism, it generally seeks reform within capitalism rather than abolishing it.
The Communist Manifesto: A political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and published in 1848. It presents a concise program for the communist movement and its critique of capitalism.
Soviet Union: A federal socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991 and was governed by the Communist Party. It became the most influential state identified with twentieth-century communism.
Friedrich Engels: A German philosopher and political theorist who collaborated with Karl Marx and helped develop Marxism. His writings with Marx set out communism as a movement and historical possibility.
Anarchism: A political tradition that opposes imposed hierarchy and advocates voluntary forms of social organization. Anarchist communists share the goal of common ownership but reject centralized state authority.
The German Ideology: An unfinished work by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, written in 1845–46 and published posthumously. It develops an early account of historical materialism underlying their communist politics.
People's Republic of China: A state founded in 1949 and governed by the Communist Party of China. Its ruling party claims a communist project while presiding over a mixed, market-oriented economy.
Class struggle: Conflict between social classes over power, resources, and the organization of production. Marxist communism treats conflict between classes as a driver of historical change.
Capitalism: An economic system in which productive assets are predominantly privately owned and production is organized through markets. It is the economic order communism seeks to replace in Marxist theory.

Linked from 49 pages