Rise:

• Began with the Russian Revolution in 1917.

• Spread to Eastern Europe, China, Cuba, Vietnam, and others during the 20th century.

• Many saw it as an alternative to colonialism or capitalism.

Fall:

• The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the biggest decline.

• Most Eastern European countries abandoned Communism between 1989 and 1991.

• China adopted capitalist market reforms from the late 1970s, though it remains politically Communist.

Today, only a few countries like China, Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba, and Laos still claim to be Communist, and most have integrated elements of capitalism.