Communism is a political and economic system where the government owns and controls most property, businesses, and resources, with the goal of distributing things more equally among the people. Instead of individuals owning many large businesses and keeping their profits, the state usually controls major production and helps decide what gets made, who works where, and how goods are shared.

The idea became especially famous in the 1800s when philosophers like Karl Marx argued that capitalism created unfair differences between wealthy factory owners and poor workers. Marx imagined a society where everyone would share equally and class differences would disappear.

In practice, communist governments in the 20th century, including those in the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and other countries, developed very differently from Marx's vision. These governments often became authoritarian, controlling not just the economy but many aspects of citizens' daily lives, and restricting freedoms like speech and travel.

During the Cold War (roughly 1947 to 1991), communist countries led by the Soviet Union and non-communist countries led by the United States competed for influence around the world. By 1991, many communist governments had collapsed or changed because their economies struggled and many citizens wanted more freedoms. Today, a few countries still call themselves communist, though most have adopted some features of market economies.