The Communist Party of Italy (Partito Comunista Italiano, PCI) was founded in 1921 as a Marxist political party. It emerged from the Italian Socialist Party and aimed to promote communist ideology in Italy. The PCI played a significant role in Italian politics, especially after World War II, advocating for workers' rights and social justice. During the late 20th century, the party experienced internal divisions and declining influence. In 1991, the PCI dissolved and transformed into the Democratic Party of the Left (Partito Democratico della Sinistra, PDS), marking a shift towards more moderate policies while retaining some of its original socialist principles.