communisme

Communism, or communisme, is a political and economic ideology that seeks a classless society in which the means of production are owned collectively and wealth is distributed according to need. It aims to abolish private ownership of capital and to end exploitation based on wage labor, with the state eventually withering away in the mature system.

Originating in the 19th century, mainly through Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as set out in The Communist Manifesto (1848). It argues that history is driven by class struggle and that capitalism contains internal contradictions leading to its overthrow. The transitional phase, the dictatorship of the proletariat, is often posited before a stateless, communist society.

In the 20th century, movements claiming to implement communism established regimes in the Soviet Union, China, and other countries, usually under Marxist-Leninist frameworks. Diverse currents include Maoism, Trotskyism, and Euro-communism. In practice these regimes differed from theoretical communism, combining central planning with one-party rule.

Critics point to economic inefficiency and political repression; supporters emphasize reduced inequality and expanded social rights. Central debates concern the viability of a stateless society, the role of the state during transition, and whether democratic planning can replace market mechanisms.

Today, "communism" remains a term used by parties and movements worldwide, with varied interpretations. In scholarship it is studied as a theory of social organization and a historical phenomenon, distinct from the specific practices of individual regimes.