The influential work co-authored by Karl Marx is "The Communist Manifesto," published in 1848 alongside Friedrich Engels. This pivotal text outlined the principles and goals of communism, advocating for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalist societies by the working class, or proletariat. The manifesto articulated the historical development of class struggles and critiqued capitalist exploitation, calling for the establishment of a classless society where the means of production are communally owned. Its passionate rhetoric and analysis of socioeconomic inequalities resonated globally and became foundational for later socialist and communist movements, influencing political thought and action for generations.