Communism emerged as a result of poverty, inequality, and class divisions. Its ideas began with visions of shared property and equal opportunities for all, and many countries tried to build a perfect society during the 20th century.
But each society faced the same troubling patterns of economic problems, political repression, and human suffering. Why did these systems collapse, even though their goals sounded fair and inspiring?
In this gallery, we explore why communist systems repeatedly broke down and how they may never succeed in the real world. Interested? Click to learn more.