Who does the term "bourgeoise" refer to in a Marxist context?

In a Marxist context, the term "bourgeoisie" refers to those who own the means of production. This includes individuals or groups who control capital, factories, and other resources necessary for producing goods and services. The bourgeoisie are often contrasted with the proletariat, who are the working class that does not own productive resources and must sell their labor to survive.

Marx's analysis centers around the relationships and conflicts between these two classes, highlighting how the bourgeoisie’s ownership of production leads to their economic and political power while the proletariat remains dependent on them for work. This dynamic is crucial to understanding concepts such as class struggle, exploitation, and the fundamental forces driving historical change in Marxist theory.