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The label arose from the perceived activity of proposing toasts to famous socialists with [[Champagne (wine)|champagne]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} A similar concept, with aristocracy in place of capitalism, comes from the 19th-century philosopher [[Alexander Herzen]], who in ''From the Other Shore'' ([[1855]]) wrote "It is they, none other, who are dying of cold and hunger...while you and I in our rooms on the first floor are chatting about socialism 'over [[pastry]] and champagne.'"
The label arose from the perceived activity of proposing toasts to famous socialists with [[Champagne (wine)|champagne]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} A similar concept, with aristocracy in place of capitalism, comes from the 19th-century philosopher [[Alexander Herzen]], who in ''From the Other Shore'' ([[1855]]) wrote "It is they, none other, who are dying of cold and hunger...while you and I in our rooms on the first floor are chatting about socialism 'over [[pastry]] and champagne.'"


Comparable terms are parlor pink, limousine liberal, Chardonnay socialist, [[Sparkling wine#Cava|cava]] socialists or [[asti (wine)|asti]] socialists. The term [[Bollinger]] [[Bolshevik]] is used in the same way.
Comparable terms are parlor pink, limousine liberal, Neiman Marxist, Chardonnay socialist, [[Sparkling wine#Cava|cava]] socialists or [[asti (wine)|asti]] socialists. The term [[Bollinger]] [[Bolshevik]] is used in the same way.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 20:16, 6 January 2011

Champagne socialist is a pejorative political term originating in the United Kingdom. The phrase is used to describe a left-winger, who supposedly disregards socialist ideals in their daily life. The term is used by opposing politicians to portray and ridicule their opponents as hypocritical.[1]

History and origin

The label arose from the perceived activity of proposing toasts to famous socialists with champagne.[citation needed] A similar concept, with aristocracy in place of capitalism, comes from the 19th-century philosopher Alexander Herzen, who in From the Other Shore (1855) wrote "It is they, none other, who are dying of cold and hunger...while you and I in our rooms on the first floor are chatting about socialism 'over pastry and champagne.'"

Comparable terms are parlor pink, limousine liberal, Neiman Marxist, Chardonnay socialist, cava socialists or asti socialists. The term Bollinger Bolshevik is used in the same way.

See also

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ New York Times
  2. ^ John Downing Quinn bids to banish 'smoked salmon socialist' image Irish Examiner Saturday, 23 March 2002