Karl Marx's theory of socialism

Marx's socialist theory portrayed communism as the ultimate resting place of a dialectical class conflict, rising from the capitalist revolution and collapse. Communism needs capitalism, just as capitalism needed feudalism. The new society arises out of conflict and class struggles; a true communist state cannot be instituted by a body on high. The workers themselves must first come to terms with their situation as capitalism collapses: while a capitalist state still functions, the workers have no need to assess their state. Only when destruction is staring them in the face will they reorganize into something radically different. Communism as Marx sees comes from the collapse of the previous system, as the people of the state as a whole make a conscious decision to move away from the instability of capitalism. But they need to see that instability for themselves, they need to struggle in order to see the true value of communism. Also, Marx's theory incorporates a dialectical view of history, so it is interesting that he sees society as coming to a halt with communism. If the state progressed from feudalism to capitalism to communism, did Marx really think that the social and economic forces that drove history would disappear in a so-called perfect state? (Coffin, 722)