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{{Short description|Statement opposing antisemitism attributed to August Bebel or Ferdinand Kronawetter}}
{{Short description|Statement opposing antisemitism attributed to August Bebel or Ferdinand Kronawetter}}
'''"Antisemitism is the socialism of fools"''' ({{langx|de|"Der Antisemitismus ist der Sozialismus der dummen Kerle"}}) is a statement opposing the idea that purported Jewish "wealth" and "power" is the source of social injustice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wuliger |first1=Michael |title=SPD der dummen Kerls |url=https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/politik/spd-der-dummen-kerls/ |accessdate=27 May 2019 |work=Jüdische Allgemeine |date=1 July 2013 |language=de}}</ref> According to British historian [[Richard J. Evans|Richard Evans]], it was probably coined by Austrian left-liberal politician [[Ferdinand Kronawetter]], but is commonly attributed to the German social democrat [[August Bebel]] and sometimes to [[Karl Marx]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Max Paul |title=Rethinking Anti-Americanism: The History of an Exceptional Concept in American Foreign Relations |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521683425 |page=264 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W6SlfhN4iqsC&dq=Sozialismus+der+dummen+Kerle&pg=PA264 |language=en}}</ref> The phrase was in wide circulation among German social democrats by the 1890s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Richard J. |title=The Coming of the Third Reich |date=2005 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9781101042670 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CmjBW3lsA84C&dq=%22socialism+of+fools%22&pg=PT592 |language=en|page=496}}</ref>
'''"Antisemitism is the socialism of fools"''' ({{langx|de|"Der Antisemitismus ist der Sozialismus der dummen Kerle"}}) is a phrase denouncing the notion that Jewish "wealth" or "power" is the root of social injustice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wuliger |first1=Michael |title=SPD der dummen Kerls |url=https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/politik/spd-der-dummen-kerls/ |accessdate=27 May 2019 |work=Jüdische Allgemeine |date=1 July 2013 |language=de}}</ref> According to British historian [[Richard J. Evans|Richard Evans]], the phrase was likely coined by Austrian left-liberal politician [[Ferdinand Kronawetter]], but is often attributed to German social democrat [[August Bebel]] and occasionally to [[Karl Marx]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Max Paul |title=Rethinking Anti-Americanism: The History of an Exceptional Concept in American Foreign Relations |date=2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521683425 |page=264 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W6SlfhN4iqsC&dq=Sozialismus+der+dummen+Kerle&pg=PA264 |language=en}}</ref> By the 1890s, the expression was widely used among German social democrats.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Evans |first1=Richard J. |title=The Coming of the Third Reich |date=2005 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9781101042670 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CmjBW3lsA84C&dq=%22socialism+of+fools%22&pg=PT592 |language=en|page=496}}</ref>


In the view of neoconservative philosopher [[Leo Strauss]], Soviet leader [[Joseph Stalin]] had considered that, because fools were common, a "socialism of fools" would be a good thing; hence, Strauss argued, Stalin had deliberately cultivated antisemitism.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Steven B. |title=Reading Leo Strauss: Politics, Philosophy, Judaism |date=2007 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226763897 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISeea7MiCz8C&dq=%22socialism+of+fools%22&pg=PA148 |language=en|page=148}}</ref>
Neoconservative philosopher [[Leo Strauss]] argued that [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] leader [[Joseph Stalin]] may have believed that, because fools were numerous, a "socialism of fools" would be advantageous. Strauss suggested that Stalin deliberately fostered antisemitism for this reason.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Steven B. |title=Reading Leo Strauss: Politics, Philosophy, Judaism |date=2007 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=9780226763897 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISeea7MiCz8C&dq=%22socialism+of+fools%22&pg=PA148 |language=en|page=148}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Economic antisemitism]]
[[Category:Economic antisemitism]]
{{Vocab-stub}}
{{Vocab-stub}}
[[Category:Left-wing antisemitism]]
[[Category:Socialist antisemitism]]

Latest revision as of 00:13, 14 December 2024

"Antisemitism is the socialism of fools" (German: "Der Antisemitismus ist der Sozialismus der dummen Kerle") is a phrase denouncing the notion that Jewish "wealth" or "power" is the root of social injustice.[1] According to British historian Richard Evans, the phrase was likely coined by Austrian left-liberal politician Ferdinand Kronawetter, but is often attributed to German social democrat August Bebel and occasionally to Karl Marx.[2] By the 1890s, the expression was widely used among German social democrats.[3]

Neoconservative philosopher Leo Strauss argued that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin may have believed that, because fools were numerous, a "socialism of fools" would be advantageous. Strauss suggested that Stalin deliberately fostered antisemitism for this reason.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Wuliger, Michael (1 July 2013). "SPD der dummen Kerls". Jüdische Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ Friedman, Max Paul (2012). Rethinking Anti-Americanism: The History of an Exceptional Concept in American Foreign Relations. Cambridge University Press. p. 264. ISBN 9780521683425.
  3. ^ Evans, Richard J. (2005). The Coming of the Third Reich. Penguin. p. 496. ISBN 9781101042670.
  4. ^ Smith, Steven B. (2007). Reading Leo Strauss: Politics, Philosophy, Judaism. University of Chicago Press. p. 148. ISBN 9780226763897.

Further reading

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