Marxist theory posits that capitalism inherently creates a class struggle between the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the working class). As the exploitation of the proletariat increases, this antagonism reaches a breaking point, inevitably leading to a revolution that overthrows the capitalist system to establish a classless society.

Marxist theory envisions the eventual 'withering away' of the state. Once the class struggle is resolved and a truly communist society is established, the state—which is viewed as a tool for class oppression—will become redundant and unnecessary. The ultimate goal is a stateless, classless society where administrative functions replace political governance.

Marxism is famously characterized by its critique of religion, which Marx described as the 'opium of the people.' Therefore, criticizing Marxism for placing too much importance on religion is fundamentally contradictory to its core tenets of historical materialism, which prioritize economic and material conditions over spiritual or religious factors in shaping human history.

A central critique of Marxian theory is the failure of the state to 'wither away' in practice. Marx predicted that after the revolution, the state would eventually become unnecessary and dissolve. However, in historical instances where Marxist regimes were established, the state apparatus typically expanded significantly in power and bureaucracy rather than disappearing, contradicting his theoretical predictions.

Marx argued that the material conditions of life, specifically the social relations of production, are the foundation of society. While the provided answer key selects 'Social factor', it is important to note that Marx's historical materialism emphasizes that economic structures (the base) determine the social and political superstructure. The social relations formed during production are the primary drivers of historical change and societal evolution.

Marxist theory posits that primitive communism was the earliest stage of human society, characterized by communal ownership of resources and the absence of social classes. It was only with the development of surplus production and private property that class divisions emerged, eventually necessitating the creation of the state as an instrument of class rule.

Marxian socialism emphasizes positive freedom, which involves the actual ability of individuals to fulfill their potential through collective control over the means of production. Negative freedom, often associated with classical liberalism, focuses on the absence of interference. Marxists argue that true freedom requires the elimination of class exploitation, making the focus on negative freedom inconsistent with their core ideological goals.

Marxists view the state as an instrument of the ruling class. They argue that political institutions, laws, and policies are designed to protect the interests of those who control the means of production, thereby perpetuating the economic dominance of the bourgeoisie over the proletariat.

Marx famously 'turned Hegel on his head' by taking the dialectical method—which Hegel applied to the realm of ideas and spirit—and applying it to material conditions. This dialectical materialism became the cornerstone of Marx's analysis of history, arguing that social change is driven by the internal contradictions within the material and economic base of society rather than by abstract philosophical concepts.

Karl Marx viewed history and social change through the lens of dialectical materialism. He argued that social revolutions are not isolated events but are part of an ongoing historical process driven by contradictions within the economic base. In this framework, the relationship between social causes and effects is dialectical, meaning they constantly interact and transform one another, leading to the inevitable progression of societal structures toward communism.