In Karl Marx's view, class consciousness is a subjective awareness held by members of a class regarding their common vested interests and need for collective political action to bring about social change. Marx argued that for the proletariat (working class) to overcome their exploitation by the bourgeoisie (capitalist class), they needed to develop an understanding of their shared economic situation and their common interests in challenging the capitalist system. This awareness would then lead to collective action, such as organizing into labor unions and engaging in political struggle, to ultimately transform society and establish a communist system where the means of production are collectively owned. The development of class consciousness is a crucial step in Marx's theory of social change.