The term '''lumpenproletariat''' (trans. 'ragged proletariat') was introduced in ''[[The German Ideology]]'' by [[Karl Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels]] describing the lowest level of the [[proletariat]], including [[vagrant]]s, [[welfare]] recipients, and [[criminal]]s. According to Marx the lumpenproletariat would have little motive for taking part in [[revolution]] and would in fact wish to maintain their class structure as they often depended on the higher classes. Marx thought of the lumpenproletariat as a [[counterrevolutionary]] strength.