Final answer:
Communism is a system and ideology where the state controls all means of production to create equality, as explained in the Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels. In practice, however, communism has often diverged from its theoretical roots, leading to government officials with extensive control and human rights violations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Communism is both a government system and a type of ideology where the state owns and controls the means of production, with the intent to create an equal society. The overarching goal of Communism is the establishment of a classless society where goods and resources are shared equally among its members and where the exploitation of workers is prevented. Under this system, the concept of private property is eliminated, and the government or community collectively owns all property and resources.
The principles of Communism originate from the Communist Manifesto, authored by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, which predicted that class inequalities would lead to a proletariat revolt, overthrowing capitalism in favor of a communally-owned economy. However, historical implementations of Communism often saw a disparity between the idealistic theory and its practice, resulting in significant human rights violations and government officials wielding extensive power over the populace.