Communism is a socio-economic and political ideology that advocates for a classless and stateless society in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are collectively owned and controlled. In a communist society, there is no private ownership of property, and the goal is to achieve a state of common ownership and equality among individuals. The theoretical underpinning of communism is often associated with the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who articulated their ideas in “The Communist Manifesto” (1848) and “Das Kapital.”

Key features of communism include:

1. **Common Ownership of Means of Production:**
– Communism calls for the abolition of private ownership of the means of production, such as factories, land, and natural resources. Instead, these are owned collectively by the community or society as a whole.

2. **Classless Society:**
– Communism envisions a society without social classes. The distinctions between the bourgeoisie (owners of capital) and the proletariat (working class) are eradicated, leading to a classless society where everyone has equal access to resources and opportunities.

3. **Statelessness:**
– In its purest form, communism advocates for the eventual withering away of the state. As class distinctions disappear and common ownership is established, the need for a centralized state diminishes, and governance becomes decentralized.

4. **Equality and Social Justice:**
– Communism aims to eliminate social inequalities and injustices. The goal is to create a society where wealth and resources are distributed based on need rather than on individual ownership or economic status.

5. **Common Distribution of Goods and Services:**
– In a communist society, goods and services are produced based on the principle of “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” The emphasis is on meeting the needs of individuals rather than the pursuit of profit.

6. **Collective Decision-Making:**
– Decision-making in a communist society is often envisioned as a collective process where individuals participate in the decision-making process on matters that affect the community.

7. **Critique of Capitalism:**
– Communism, as articulated by Marx and Engels, is a response to the perceived injustices and inequalities inherent in capitalist systems. It critiques the exploitation of labor, class struggle, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.

It’s important to note that while communism is an idealistic concept, the practical implementations of communism in the 20th century, such as in the Soviet Union, China, and other countries, often deviated from the theoretical ideals. Many of these implementations resulted in the establishment of authoritarian regimes, one-party rule, and significant limitations on individual freedoms.

Communism remains a topic of theoretical debate and discussion, and its practical application has varied widely across different historical and cultural contexts. In the contemporary world, there are diverse forms of governance and economic systems, and the pure implementation of communism, as envisioned by Marx, has not been realized on a large scale.