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| | '''Defection''' is a term that means to change sides. This is usually used in the context of the change of [[allegiance]], [[duty]] or [[loyalty]] particularly in a [[politics|political]] context. In a religious context defection is known as [[apostasy]]. | | '''Defection''' is a term that means to change sides. This is usually used in the context of the change of [[allegiance]], [[duty]] or [[loyalty]] particularly in a [[politics|political]] context. In a religious context defection is known as [[apostasy]]. |
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| | + | Defection can also means failure, lack, or loss: e.g. He was overcome by a sudden defection of [[humor]]. |
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| | The word is often associated with the [[Cold War]] when individuals would ''defect'' from say [[Soviet Union|Russia]] or [[DDR|East Germany]] to the West, although some traitors also moved the opposite way from the [[United States]] or [[United Kingdom]]. Defectors often supplied valuable [[intelligence]] to the opposition and intelligence agencies often tried to delay their defection for as long as possible. As a reward they would often be given a [[house]] and [[job]] in their adopted [[country]] but ultimately they often ended up sad and lonely in their new [[home]]. | | The word is often associated with the [[Cold War]] when individuals would ''defect'' from say [[Soviet Union|Russia]] or [[DDR|East Germany]] to the West, although some traitors also moved the opposite way from the [[United States]] or [[United Kingdom]]. Defectors often supplied valuable [[intelligence]] to the opposition and intelligence agencies often tried to delay their defection for as long as possible. As a reward they would often be given a [[house]] and [[job]] in their adopted [[country]] but ultimately they often ended up sad and lonely in their new [[home]]. |
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| − | Defection can also means failure, lack, or loss: e.g. He was overcome by a sudden defection of [[humor]].
| + | ==Some notable defectors== |
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| | + | *[[Kim Philby]] (Britain to USSR) |
| | + | *[[Guy Burgess]] (Britain to USSR) |
| | + | *[[Donald MacClean]] (Britain to USSR) |
| | + | *[[Oleg Gordievsky]] (USSR to Britain) |
| | + | *[[Mikhail Baryshnikov]] (USSR to Canada) |
| | + | *[[Rudolf Nureyev]] (USSR to France) |
| | + | *[[James Joseph Dresnok]] (USA to North Korea) |
| | + | *[[Jerry Wayne Parrish]] (USA to North Korea) |
| | + | *[[Bernon F. Mitchell]] (USA to USSR) |
| | + | *[[William H. Martin]] (USA to USSR) |
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| | [[Category:Politics]] | | [[Category:Politics]] |
| | [[Category:Language]] | | [[Category:Language]] |