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sabotage

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sabotage [Fr., sabot=wooden shoe; hence, to work clumsily], form of direct action direct action, theory and methods used by certain labor groups to fight employers, capitalist institutions, and the state by direct economic action, without using intermediate organizations.
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 by workers against employers through obstruction of work and/or lowering of plant efficiency. Methods range from peaceful slowing of production to destruction of property. In 1897, French workers adopted sabotage as a general strategy. It was also used by the syndicalists (see syndicalism syndicalism (sĭn`dĭkəlĭzəm)
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) and by the Industrial Workers of the World in the United States. It has been condemned by Communists and Socialists as counterrevolutionary because it often results in a wave of repressive measures. The term has also been used, notably by Thorstein Veblen Veblen, Thorstein (thôr`stīn vĕb`lən), 1857–1929, American economist and social critic, b. Cato Township, Wis.
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, to refer to limitation of output by businessmen to enhance profits by maintaining scarcity of goods. In wartime it connotes nonmilitary enemy activity, by either foreign agents or native sympathizers, especially the physical damage of vital industries.

See also guerrilla warfare guerrilla warfare (gərĭl`ə) [Span.
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; terrorism terrorism, the threat or use of violence, often against the civilian population, to achieve political or social ends, to intimidate opponents, or to publicize grievances.
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Bibliography

See E. Pouget, Sabotage (1910, tr. 1913); S. B. Mathewson, Restriction of Output among Unorganized Workers (1931); E. Feit, Urban Revolt in South Africa, 1960–1964: A Case Study (1971).


The deliberate damage to equipment or information. For example, Web site defacement is an example of information sabotage.


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This man no longer condemned Bert, himself muttering vaguely of dynamite, end sabotage, and revolution.
Martin had insisted that the requirement for hired help was over; however, in despair over his wife's determined sabotage, it was Martin himself who commanded that the girl be reinstated for another two months.
 
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