Marxism is a socialist theory of dialectical human progress culminating in proletarian revolution and the abolition of class divisions and exploitation through the ownership of property. Because of the inconsistency of Marxist predictions with actual events, the doctrine and its exponents are left open to the accusation of hypocrisy either from contrary ideologies or from within Marxist ranks. The movement has been divided for a long time, originally into social democrats and communists (an element of this still exists among Western intellectuals in non-socialist countries) and currently among communist factions in socialist countries. Marxism may be elitist, tending towards bureaucracy, dictatorship and militarism. Alternatively it may tend towards anarchism, social disintegration and violence. Marxism poses a threat to capitalism. It causes international conflict and internal conflict and repression within non-socialist countries. Divisions in Marxist ideology cause repression in socialist countries and may cause foreign intervention (as in Czechoslovakia).
Marxist doctrine was spelled out concisely in the 'Communist Manifesto' written by Karl Marx in 1848. Marx and Engels propagated the doctrine which became accepted by the First and Second Working Mens' Internationals, mainly representing a European movement but which spread to the USA when Marx moved the First International's headquarters there (from London) after the fall of Paris Commune in 1871. During the Second International after the death of Marx in 1882, conflicting interpretations arose which divided Marxists into the social democratic and communist camps. After the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, this division widened and has continued to do so, so that now social democrats and communists in non-socialist countries are often the most bitter opponents. Marxism lost much of its international aspect under Stalin who converted it for the purposes of nationalism. Russia has since been accused of imperialism by Red China and by Western intellectual Marxist-socialists who retain the original Marxist internationalism.
Marxism became a world wide phenomenon during the 20th century. Communist countries take their ideology from Marxist thought. Elsewhere, intellectuals and workers form communist and socialist movements or parties based on Marxist doctrine. High incidence of the latter is found in Italy and France. China, North Korea and Cuba are strongholds of Marxist beliefs. Lenin adopted an elitist and bureaucratic approach to Marxism reflected in pre-Glasnost USSR and the eastern European countries over which it formerly maintained a strict hold. Now Lenin's statue in Berlin is removed. Ideological schism occurs between the Russian and Chinese (and oriental) approach to Marxism. Trotskyite Marxism tends towards anarchy. Wars fought on ideological grounds between Marxism and capitalism include the Korean war, the Vietnam war and the war in Cambodia and Laos. Repression of Marxism occurs particularly in fascist or right-wing capitalist countries. Repression of Marxist deviation occurs within most communist countries.


For most of the 20th century, almost all radical movements for social change were shaped by Marxist ideas. His generous vision of social revolution was based on a "bottom-up" not "top-down" view of democratic change - something his later admirers failed to understand. For him social emancipation was not something that an enlightened elite could bring to "the masses", but something that men and women had to accomplish for themselves. Marx's insistent and life-long emphasis on the role of class in the development of religious, social, economic and political ideas influenced thinkers who otherwise rejected his revolutionary message.
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