lumpenproletariat
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- (Marxism) The unorganized lower levels of the proletariat who are not interested in revolutionary advancement: This term refers to a social class comprising the very poorest and most marginalized members of the working class, who are seen as lacking class consciousness and are not politically organized for revolutionary change.
Usage
- The term is used primarily in sociological and political discussions, especially within a Marxist theoretical framework, to describe a specific segment of the population.
- It is often used critically or descriptively to discuss groups perceived as being outside organized labor movements.
Examples
- Noun:
- The revolutionary vanguard aimed to mobilize the industrial workers but often disregarded the lumpenproletariat.
- Some theorists argued that the lumpenproletariat could be a destabilizing force, easily manipulated by reactionary elements.
Advanced Usage
- The concept is sometimes extended in broader social analysis to describe any underclass perceived as disorganized, apathetic, or lacking political agency, though this is a departure from strict Marxist definition.
- It can carry a pejorative connotation when used to imply social degradation or a lack of moral character.
Variants and Related Words
- Lumpen (adj/n): Used informally to describe someone or something as crude, unrefined, or belonging to the lowest social class. (e.g., , ).
- Proletariat (n): The working class, especially the industrial working class, who sell their labor for wages.
Synonyms
- Underclass: The lowest social stratum, lacking stable employment and often living in poverty.
- Rabble: A disparaging term for a disorderly crowd or the common people.
- The dispossessed: People who have been deprived of possessions, rights, or status.
Related Idioms/Phrases
- While there are no common idioms using "lumpenproletariat," the related term "lumpen" can appear in phrases like "lumpen intelligentsia," referring to intellectuals perceived as crude or degraded in their thinking.
Noun
- (Marxism) the unorganized lower levels of the proletariat who are not interested in revolutionary advancement