Marxism is the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, later developed by their followers to form the basis of communism.
Central to Marxist theory is an explanation of social change in terms of economic factors, according to which the means of production provide the economic base which influences or determines the political and ideological superstructure. Marx and Engels predicted the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism by the proletariat and the eventual attainment of a classless communist society.
Contemporary Marxist thought relies heavily on critical theory and seeks to apply those theories in psychotherapy as the means of political and cultural change. This is accomplished by use of subjective bias to magnify the critical consciousness, a worldview that sees society in terms of systems of power, privilege, dominance, oppression, and marginalisation, and to incentivise activism by any means necessary, ultimately leading toward destabilisation of the status quo.