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Parasitism (social offense)
Encyclopedia
Social parasitism is a charge that is leveled against a group or class
in society which is considered to be detrimental to the whole by analogy with biologic parasitism
.
or Russian Revolution
, whole social class
es, such as the aristocracy
, bourgeoisie
and particularly rentier
s were accused of living off unearned income, and hence declared parasitic, as opposed to the working class
. Jews
have long been accused
of parasitism, especially in both Nazi Germany
and the USSR.
In her screenplay The Fountainhead
, philosophical writer Ayn Rand
contrasts the creators and parasites of a society through the protagonist Howard Roark:
The text of The Internationale
, the famous socialist song, later adotpted as the hymn of the Soviet Union
(from 1917 to 1941), in a number of languages contains lines that refer to parasites. For example, the Russian text reads:
While the political Left
sees various kinds of elite
s who derive wealth through unearned means, such as the capital ownership class, as parasitic, the theories of various libertarian
philosophers and free market
economists from the political Right, such as Milton Friedman
, have accused certain categories of non-working poor ("free riders
" or "freeloader
s") of being social parasites; likewise, since the creation of welfare state
s in the mid 20th century, some free market advocates have accused welfare recipients of being parasites.
(パラサイトシングル, parasaito shinguru) is a Japan
ese expression for people who live with their parents until their late 20's or early 30's in order to enjoy a carefree and comfortable life.
In Nazi Germany
, a propaganda
campaign was launched to portray the mentally ill and disabled as parasites on society, as a part of the racial hygiene
doctrine. (See the article on the T-4 Euthanasia Program for more.)
The Nazis also viewed, with but a few exceptions, persons of non-Western European ethnicity as subhuman
or untermensch
, often describing them as, or comparing them to, parasites, rat
s, or other vermin
. These ethnicities and nationalities included Eastern Europeans, Gypsies (Roma), and almost all non-whites, with the probably politically motivated exceptions of their Japanese allies, as well as Arabs and certain Turkic peoples, at one point considered prospective allies. The large Jewish minority in Germany and occupied Europe was but the most prominent target of persecutions.
, which declared to be a workers' state, every adult able-bodied person was expected to work until official retirement. Thus unemployment
was officially and theoretically eliminated; those who refused to work
or otherwise did not work, study or serve, risked being criminally charged with social parasitism .
Charges of parasitism were frequently applied to dissidents and refusenik
s, many of whom were intellectual
s. Since their writings were considered against the regime, the state prevented them from obtaining employment. To avoid trials for parasitism, many of them took unskilled (but not especially time-consuming) jobs (street sweepers, fire-keepers, etc.) which allowed them to continue their literary or research work.
The list of those arrested and charged with the crime of social parasitism contains notable names, such as the poet Joseph Brodsky
, who was sentenced in 1964 to five years of banishment from Leningrad
into Arkhangelsk Oblast
. In 1987 he won the Nobel Prize in Literature
.
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
in society which is considered to be detrimental to the whole by analogy with biologic parasitism
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
.
General concept
In various countries at various times, especially during periods of social unrest, such as the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
or Russian Revolution
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
, whole social class
Social class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
es, such as the aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
, bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
and particularly rentier
Rentier
A rentier is an entity that receives income derived from economic rents, which can include anything from the income derived from intellectual property to real estate. Associated terms include* Rentier capitalism* Rentier state...
s were accused of living off unearned income, and hence declared parasitic, as opposed to the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
have long been accused
Antisemitic canard
An antisemitic canard is a false story inciting antisemitism. Despite being thoroughly disproved, antisemitic canards are often part of broader theories of Jewish conspiracies. According to Kenneth S. Stern,Historically, Jews have not fared well around conspiracy theories. Such ideas fuel...
of parasitism, especially in both Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and the USSR.
In her screenplay The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead (film)
The Fountainhead is a 1949 American film directed by King Vidor, based on the best-selling book of the same name by Ayn Rand, who wrote the screenplay adaptation....
, philosophical writer Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
contrasts the creators and parasites of a society through the protagonist Howard Roark:
The text of The Internationale
The Internationale
The Internationale is a famous socialist, communist, social-democratic and anarchist anthem.The Internationale became the anthem of international socialism, and gained particular fame under the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1944, when it was that communist state's de facto central anthem...
, the famous socialist song, later adotpted as the hymn of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(from 1917 to 1941), in a number of languages contains lines that refer to parasites. For example, the Russian text reads:
| Лишь мы, работники всемирной Великой армии труда! Владеть землёй имеем право, Но паразиты - никогда! |
Only we, the workers of the all-world Great army of labor, Have the right to own the land, But parasites — never! |
While the political Left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
sees various kinds of elite
Elite
Elite refers to an exceptional or privileged group that wields considerable power within its sphere of influence...
s who derive wealth through unearned means, such as the capital ownership class, as parasitic, the theories of various libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
philosophers and free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economists from the political Right, such as Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
, have accused certain categories of non-working poor ("free riders
Free rider problem
In economics, collective bargaining, psychology, and political science, a free rider is someone who consumes a resource without paying for it, or pays less than the full cost. The free rider problem is the question of how to limit free riding...
" or "freeloader
Freeloader
The term "Freeloader" in everyday speech refers to a "mooch" or a schnorrer. The technical term for such a person is a free rider.Freeloader may also refer to:* Freeloaders , an electronic music act...
s") of being social parasites; likewise, since the creation of welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
s in the mid 20th century, some free market advocates have accused welfare recipients of being parasites.
Japan
Parasite singlesParasite singles
Parasite single is a Japanese term for a single person who lives with their parents until their late twenties or early thirties in order to enjoy a carefree and comfortable life...
(パラサイトシングル, parasaito shinguru) is a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese expression for people who live with their parents until their late 20's or early 30's in order to enjoy a carefree and comfortable life.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, a propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
campaign was launched to portray the mentally ill and disabled as parasites on society, as a part of the racial hygiene
Racial hygiene
Racial hygiene was a set of early twentieth century state sanctioned policies by which certain groups of individuals were allowed to procreate and others not, with the expressed purpose of promoting certain characteristics deemed to be particularly desirable...
doctrine. (See the article on the T-4 Euthanasia Program for more.)
The Nazis also viewed, with but a few exceptions, persons of non-Western European ethnicity as subhuman
Subhuman
- Biology :* Any of the extinct or living members of the clade Hominoidea other than Homo or alternatively just H. sapiens sapiens.-Music:* subHuman , a 2007 music album by Recoil...
or untermensch
Untermensch
Untermensch is a term that became infamous when the Nazi racial ideology used it to describe "inferior people", especially "the masses from the East," that is Jews, Gypsies, Poles along with other Slavic people like the Russians, Serbs, Belarussians and Ukrainians...
, often describing them as, or comparing them to, parasites, rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s, or other vermin
Vermin
Vermin is a term applied to various animal species regarded by some as pests or nuisances and especially to those associated with the carrying of disease. Since the term is defined in relation to human activities, which species are included will vary from area to area and even person to person...
. These ethnicities and nationalities included Eastern Europeans, Gypsies (Roma), and almost all non-whites, with the probably politically motivated exceptions of their Japanese allies, as well as Arabs and certain Turkic peoples, at one point considered prospective allies. The large Jewish minority in Germany and occupied Europe was but the most prominent target of persecutions.
Soviet Union
In the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, which declared to be a workers' state, every adult able-bodied person was expected to work until official retirement. Thus unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
was officially and theoretically eliminated; those who refused to work
Refusal of work
Refusal of work is behavior which refuses to adapt to regular employment.As actual behavior, with or without a political or philosophical program, it has been practiced by various subcultures and individuals. Radical political positions have openly advocated refusal of work. From within marxism it...
or otherwise did not work, study or serve, risked being criminally charged with social parasitism .
Charges of parasitism were frequently applied to dissidents and refusenik
Refusenik (Soviet Union)
Refusenik was an unofficial term for individuals, typically but not exclusively, Soviet Jews, who were denied permission to emigrate abroad by the authorities of the former Soviet Union and other countries of the Eastern bloc...
s, many of whom were intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s. Since their writings were considered against the regime, the state prevented them from obtaining employment. To avoid trials for parasitism, many of them took unskilled (but not especially time-consuming) jobs (street sweepers, fire-keepers, etc.) which allowed them to continue their literary or research work.
The list of those arrested and charged with the crime of social parasitism contains notable names, such as the poet Joseph Brodsky
Joseph Brodsky
Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky , was a Russian poet and essayist.In 1964, 23-year-old Brodsky was arrested and charged with the crime of "social parasitism" He was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1972 and settled in America with the help of W. H. Auden and other supporters...
, who was sentenced in 1964 to five years of banishment from Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
into Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
. In 1987 he won the Nobel Prize in Literature
Nobel Prize in Literature
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
.
See also
- Enemy of the peopleEnemy of the peopleThe term enemy of the people is a fluid designation of political or class opponents of the group using the term. The term implies that the "enemies" in question are acting against society as a whole. It is similar to the notion of "enemy of the state". The term originated in Roman times as ,...
- Free rider problemFree rider problemIn economics, collective bargaining, psychology, and political science, a free rider is someone who consumes a resource without paying for it, or pays less than the full cost. The free rider problem is the question of how to limit free riding...
- Refusal of workRefusal of workRefusal of work is behavior which refuses to adapt to regular employment.As actual behavior, with or without a political or philosophical program, it has been practiced by various subcultures and individuals. Radical political positions have openly advocated refusal of work. From within marxism it...
- GulagGulagThe Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
- LurkerLurkerIn Internet culture, a lurker is a person who reads discussions on a message board, newsgroup, chatroom, file sharing, social networking site, listening to people in VOIP calls such as Skype and Ventrilo or other interactive system, but rarely or never participates actively...
- The Ant and the GrasshopperThe Ant and the GrasshopperThe Ant and the Grasshopper, also known as The Grasshopper and the Ant , is one of Aesop's Fables, providing an ambivalent moral lesson about hard work and foresight. In the Perry Index it is number 373...
- UntermenschUntermenschUntermensch is a term that became infamous when the Nazi racial ideology used it to describe "inferior people", especially "the masses from the East," that is Jews, Gypsies, Poles along with other Slavic people like the Russians, Serbs, Belarussians and Ukrainians...