|Part of a series on| Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical
worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry based upon a
materialist interpretation of historical development, a
dialectical view of social change, and an analysis of class-
relations within society and their application in the analysis
and critique of the development of capitalism. In the mid-to-
late 19th century, the intellectual development of Marxism was
pioneered by two German philosophers: Karl Marx and Friedrich
Engels. Marxist analyses and methodologies have influenced
multiple political ideologies and social movements throughout
history. Marxism encompasses an economic theory, a sociological
theory, a philosophical method, and a revolutionary view of
social change. There is no one definitive Marxist theory;
Marxist analysis has been applied to a variety of different
subjects and has been modified during the course of its
development, resulting in multiple and sometimes contradictory
theories that fall under the rubric of Marxism or Marx