Final answer:
Marx described communism as a system where the means of production are owned by the people, following a proletarian revolution against capitalism. After the transition through socialism, Marx's vision of communism aimed for a classless, stateless society with equitable distribution based on needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marx described communism as a form of complete socialism in which the means of production would be owned by the people. He envisioned a society where the workers, or proletariat, after revolting against the inequalities of capitalism, would dismantle private property resulting in a classless system. In Marx's theory, socialism serves as a transitional stage between the fall of capitalism and the rise of communism. Socialism can vary in form, from more moderate versions where the government regulates essential services while allowing private ownership of non-essential business, to more extreme versions where all property is communally owned.
After the final battle, Marx predicted a world where the workers, having developed class consciousness, would control the means of production, leading to a global, international dictatorship of the proletariat, replacing traditional states. Ultimately, Marx believed that communism would create a more equitable system than capitalism, with a communal distribution of goods and services based on people's needs.