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'''Marxism''' is an intellectual movement developed by the German historian/economist [[Karl Marx]] and by the German political scientist [[Friedrich Engels]].  Marx's approach is indicated by the opening line of the Communist Manifesto (1848): “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”. Marx believed that capitalism, like previous socioeconomic systems, will produce internal tensions which will lead to its destruction. Just as capitalism replaced feudalism, capitalism itself will be displaced by communism, a classless society which emerges after a transitional period in which the state would be nothing else but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.  

'''Marxism''' is an revolutionary movement developed by the German historian/economist [[Karl Marx]] and by the German political scientist [[Friedrich Engels]].  Marx's approach is indicated by the opening line of the Communist Manifesto (1848): “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”. Marx believed that [[capitalism]], like previous socioeconomic systems, would produce internal tensions which would lead to its destruction. Just as capitalism replaced [[feudalism]], capitalism itself will be displaced by [[communism]], a classless society which would emerge after a transitional period in which the state would be nothing else but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.  

[[Communism]], in a broad sense, is the political manifestation of Marxist philosophy, much like the American Constitution is the manifestation of social contract theory and property rights theory developed by [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] and [[John Locke]].  Communism was never firmly defined outside of the communist manifesto, allowing leaders such as Lennin and Mao to specifically tailor it to their expediant political needs.   Communism grew to be an extremely popular political movement in late 19th century western industrial democracies.  However, rising working standards coupled with a growing middle class severely stunted the communist movement in Western Europe and North America. As a result, a world communist state like Marx envisioned was never realized.

[[Communism]], in a broad sense, is the political manifestation of Marxist philosophy.  Communism was never firmly defined outside of the communist manifesto, allowing leaders such as [[Lennin]] and [[Mao]] to specifically tailor it to their expediant political needs. Communism grew in popularity in the late 19th century western industrial democracies before taking revolutionary root in Russia.  However, rising working standards coupled with a growing middle class severely stunted the communist movement in Western Europe and North America. A world communist state like Marx envisioned was never realized.