Final answer:
Karl Marx, the German philosopher, proposed that the proletariat should overthrow the bourgeoisie to create a socialist society. Marx's theories, particularly in 'The Communist Manifesto', significantly impacted socio-political thought, although a global proletarian revolution did not occur as he had predicted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The German philosopher who believed that the proletariat should overthrow the bourgeoisie to establish a more egalitarian society was Karl Marx. Marx's critical analysis of capitalism led him to theorize that industrialization would culminate in a final class struggle between the working-class proletariat and the capitalist bourgeoisie. Marx envisioned that the proletariat would emerge victorious in this conflict, seizing the means of production and ushering in a socialist society. His influential works, primarily the The Communist Manifesto co-authored with Friedrich Engels, provided the ideological groundwork for the eventual rise of communist movements around the world. However, despite Marx's predictions, a worldwide proletarian revolution never came to fruition. National interests and the resilience of capitalism proved too strong, and by the late 20th Century, few nations remained under Communist governments. Nonetheless, Marx's theories had a profound impact on socio-political thought and continue to influence discussions about economic systems and class struggles.