Antisemitism is the socialism of fools explained
"Antisemitism is the socialism of fools" (German: "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.[1] According to British historian 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.[2] The phrase was in wide circulation among German social democrats by the 1890s.[3]
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.[4]
Further reading
- Book: Battini. Michele. Mazhar. Noor . Vergnano. Isabella. Socialism of Fools: Capitalism and Modern Anti-Semitism . 2016 . Columbia University Press . 10.7312/batt17038. 9780231541329.
- Book: Seymour Martin Lipset
. Lipset . Seymour Martin . Seymour Martin Lipset. "The Socialism of Fools": The Left, the Jews & Israel . 1969 . Anti-Defamation League. en.
- Book: Lerner . Michael . The Socialism of Fools: Anti-Semitism on the Left . 1992 . Tikkun Books . 9780935933055 . en . registration .
- Book: Brustein . William I. . Roberts . Louisa . The Socialism of Fools?: Leftist Origins of Modern Anti-Semitism . 2015 . Cambridge University Press . 9781316368176 . en.
- Book: Jürgens . Peer . Antisemitismus: Sozialismus des dummen Kerls? Sozialdemokratie und Antisemitismus im Deutschen Kaiserreich . 2013 . Diplomica Verlag . 9783842868953 . de.
Notes and References
- News: Wuliger . Michael . SPD der dummen Kerls . 27 May 2019 . Jüdische Allgemeine . 1 July 2013 . de.
- Book: Friedman . Max Paul . Rethinking Anti-Americanism: The History of an Exceptional Concept in American Foreign Relations . 2012 . Cambridge University Press . 9780521683425 . 264 . en.
- Book: Evans . Richard J. . The Coming of the Third Reich . 2005 . Penguin . 9781101042670 . en. 496.
- Book: Smith . Steven B. . Reading Leo Strauss: Politics, Philosophy, Judaism . 2007 . University of Chicago Press . 9780226763897 . en. 148.
