The communist ideology was propounded by Karl Marx. He was a German philosopher, economist, historian, and revolutionary socialist who is best known for his works on communism and socialism. Marx is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of socialist and communist theory and is often referred to as the father of communism. He, along with Friedrich Engels, co-authored "The Communist Manifesto," which outlines the principles of communism and calls for the overthrow of capitalist systems in favor of a socialist society.