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Marxism refers to the philosophy and social theory on one hand, and to the political practice based on Marxist theory on the other hand (namely, parts of the First International during Marx's time, communist parties and later states). Karl Marx, a 19th century German, Jewish, socialist philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, often in collaboration with Friedrich Engels, drew on G.W.F. Hegel's philosophy, the political economy of Adam Smith and David Ricardo, and theorists of 19th century French republicanism and socialism, to develop a critique of society which he claimed was both scientific and revolutionary. This critique achieved its most systematic (albeit unfinished) expression in his most famous work, Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, more commonly known as Das Kapital (1867). He believed that a revolution would be the catalyst in the transformation from capitalism to socialism. Locating itself at the far left, Marxism has been situated largely outside the Western political mainstream since its inception and up to the present day, although it has played a major role in history. Today, Marxist political parties of widely different sizes survive in most countries around the world, while the influences of Marx's philosophy may be found in many Marxist and non-Marxist works around the world.
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