Communism is a set of beliefs and ideologies which are based on the writings of Karl Marx, a German philosopher and thinker (1818-1883). Communism means belonging to all and Marx believed that the proletariat (the working classes) who were the 'have nots' should revolt against the capitalist owners (the haves) and that ownership of everything would be in the hands of everyone.
He felt that the individual was of no importance, what mattered was the state and that only when the working classes were set free and no longer kept in servitude to the richer classes, could people truly be happy.
Although the USSR and Eastern Block countries, as well as China have been Communist countrues at some point in the 20th Century and China still is, many Communists do not feel that true communism has ever been achieved. This derives from Trotsky who was a chief player in the Russian Revolution. He believed that Communism could only be successful if the whole world were to embrace the concept and that true communism could not be achieved in just one country.
He felt that the individual was of no importance, what mattered was the state and that only when the working classes were set free and no longer kept in servitude to the richer classes, could people truly be happy.
Although the USSR and Eastern Block countries, as well as China have been Communist countrues at some point in the 20th Century and China still is, many Communists do not feel that true communism has ever been achieved. This derives from Trotsky who was a chief player in the Russian Revolution. He believed that Communism could only be successful if the whole world were to embrace the concept and that true communism could not be achieved in just one country.