Classicide

Classicideis a concept proposed by sociologistMichael Mannto describe the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of asocial classthroughpersecutionandviolence.Although it was first used by physician andanti-communistactivistFred Schwarzin 1972,classicidewas popularized by Mann as a term that is similar to but distinct fromgenocidebecause it means the "intended mass killing of entire social classes."Classicide is considered a form of "premeditatedmass killing",which is narrower than genocide, because the target of a classicide is a part of a population which is defined by itssocial status,and classicide is also considered broader thanpoliticidebecause the group which is targeted for classicide is killed without any concern for its political activities.

Definition

Classicidewas first used by Schwarz in his 1972 bookThe Three Faces of Revolution.It was later used by Mann as a well-defined term.Since then,classicidehas been used by somesociologists,such as MannandMartin Shaw,to describe the unique forms ofgenocidewhich pertain to the annihilation of a class throughmurderor displacement and the destruction of thebourgeoisieto form an equalproletariat,although Mann does not usegenocidein reference to examples underCommunist states.

Political scientistChristophe Jaffrelotand historianJacques Sémelinwrite that "Mann thus establishes a sort of parallel betweenracial enemiesandclass enemies,thereby contributing to the debates on comparisons betweenNazismandcommunism.This theory has also been developed by someFrench historianssuch asStéphane CourtoisandJean-Louis MargolininThe Black Book of Communism:they view class genocide as the equivalent to racial genocide. However, Mann refuses to use the term 'genocide' to describe the crimes which were committed under communism. He prefers to use the terms 'fratricide' and 'classicide', a word which he coined in reference to the intentional mass killings of entire social classes. "

Examples

According to Mann, examples of classicide include thedekulakizationpolicy during the forcedcollectivization in the Soviet Unionunder theStalin eraof the better off peasants, who were labelled askulaksand identified as "class enemies"by theSovietregime,and theCambodian genocideby theKhmer Rougeregime inDemocratic Kampuchea,before being stopped byVietnam.They were a perversion ofsocialisttheories ofdemocracyin the same sense asethnic cleansingis a perversion ofnationalisttheory of democracy.

Human rightsactivistHarry Wuhas identified the killings which were carried out during theChinese Land Reformunder the leadership ofMao Zedongas classicide. Wu writes that "in order to consolidate his power, Mao Zedong implemented a nation-wide ideology to undermine those who previously held power."According to Wu, this ideology included dividing people into five class categories depending on their possession of land, capital, property, and income. The five categories were the landlord class, the rich peasant class, the middle peasant class, and the poor worker and peasant classes. Those in the lower classes were "praised for their humble way of life and work ethic", while the landlords and the wealthy were demonized and persecuted. Their property was seized, they were sent to do hard manual labor in the countryside, and many of them were killed. Wu writes that "according to research, in 1949 there were around 10 to 15 million members of the landlord and rich peasant classes nationwide. By the end of the 1970s, when the Cultural Revolution had ended, only 10 to 15 percent of them remained alive."

See also

See also:Outline of genocide studies

• Class conflict
• Democide
• Eliticide
• Helots
• Life unworthy of life
• Social cleansing

Bibliography

Main article:Bibliography of Genocide studies

• Alvarez, Alex (2009).Genocidal Crimes(1st illustrated ed.). London, England: Routledge.ISBN9781134035816.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Jaffrelot, Christophe; Sémelin, Jacques, eds. (2007).Purify and Destroy: The Political Uses of Massacre and Genocide.CERI Series in Comparative Politics and International Studies. Translated by Cynthia Schoch (hardback ed.). New York City, New York: Columbia University Press.ISBN9780231142823.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Jones, Adam (2016) [2006].Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction(3rd ed.). London, England: Routledge.ISBN9781317533863.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Mann, Michael (2005).The Dark Side of Democracy: Explaining Ethnic Cleansing(paperback ed.). New York City, New York: Cambridge University Press.ISBN9780521538541.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Mann, Michael (Spring 2002).Explaining Murderous Ethnic Cleansing: Eight Theses(PDF)(Paper prepared for the International Sociological Association Conference, Brisbane, Australia, July 2002). Brisbane, Australia: University of California, Los Angeles. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 21, 2003.Retrieved21 November2021– via UCLA.
• Mann, Michael (2012).The Sources of Social Power: Volume 4, Globalizations, 1945–2011.New York City, New York: Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781107311220.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Sangar, Eric (3 November 2007)."Classicide".Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence.Retrieved21 November2021– via Sciences Po.
• Schwarz, Fred (1972).The Three Faces of Revolution(hardcover ed.). Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Press.ISBN9780882210032.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Shaw, Martin (2015).What is Genocide?(1st ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.ISBN9780745631837.Retrieved21 November2021– via Google Books.
• Wu, Harry (1 December 2012)."Classicide in Communist China".Comparative Civilizations Review.67(Fall 2012). Salzburg, Austria: International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations: 101–106.doi:10.5840/jis2006181/27.Retrieved21 November2021– via BYU ScholarsArchive.
• Wu, Harry (1 July 2006). "Classicide – Genocide in Communist China".Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies.18(1/2). Huntington, West Virginia: Institute for Interdisciplinary Research: 121–135.doi:10.5840/jis2006181/27.