Marxism is a theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels based upon the idea that social hierarchies only benefit the rich. Marx opposed capitalism – a system that allows people to have individual rights and own private property – because he felt that a person’s life should not be defined by their relationship with the economy. He noted that there were two dominant classes within society: the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.

Marx believed that the bourgeoisie exploited the commodities they had; in this case, the commodities were the skills and lives of the proletariat (or working class) because the only thing they could sell was their labour. These workers were alienated from the product in the same way that many employees are today; the initial production is completed in factories miles and miles away from where the items are actually sold. Marx claimed this estrangement would cause the gap between those at the top of the hierarchy and those at the bottom to continue to widen.

Now, instead of revolting against this system, those who were less fortunate sought comfort from religion and like Marx predicted, in many places the gap did continue to grow but capitalism still acts as the basis for lots of societies in the modern day. This is thought to be because someone’s class is much less important now than it was in the 1800’s! This doesn’t mean that the economic hierarchy has disappeared though; it is much more likely that previous divisions are being blurred as it is more possible to change your socio-economic status by working hard.

However, Marxism has still had an effect on the future as it lead to the development of communism – a system in which the community owns all property and each person receives what they need. Marx and Engels co-wrote and published ‘The Communist Manifesto’ in 1848 and although there was not a revolution against the bourgeoisie like Marx had hoped, his ideas are, although heavily criticised, still supported by many.