The political and economic ideology that was dominant in the Soviet Union was communism. Based on the ideas of Karl Marx, this system aimed for a classless society where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. The Soviet government controlled the economy and implemented central planning to achieve its goals. Communism shaped Soviet society profoundly, affecting everything from politics to education, as the state sought to eliminate capitalist influences and promote a unified socialist identity.