Never again? The growth of antisemitism in Europe: contradictions and complexity

As a result of the global economic crisis and the continuing hold of neoliberalism, many European countries are experiencing state imposed austerity regimes. This in turn has contributed to a growth of xenophobia, racism and... [ view full abstract ]

As a result of the global economic crisis and the continuing hold of neoliberalism, many European countries are experiencing state imposed austerity regimes. This in turn has contributed to a growth of xenophobia, racism and nationalism; which in some instances manifests itself in fascist political movements espousing openly racist and antisemitic rhetoric and ideology. Such movements threaten the human rights of minority communities across Europe and weaken social solidarity. In this context there is a pressing need to re-examine anti-racist discourse to ensure its contemporary relevance in both analysing the growth of racism; and in providing a guide for anti-racist activity.
Antisemitism is a changing and contradictory phenomenon, with ‘classical’ and ‘new’ variants. In Europe, there has been a resurgence of classical antisemitism, for example in Hungary; whilst at the same time there has been a growth of ‘new’ antisemitism in Sweden linked to the politics of the Middle East. Both instances can have serious implications for Jewish communities. At the same time, much contemporary anti-racist literature, as for example in the field of social work, does not integrate an analysis of antisemitism (Levine, 2014). This relative absence of an integrated analysis of antisemitism is problematic and potentially disarms the anti-racist movement.
This paper will analyse the growth of antisemitism in Europe and explore the resulting complexities, with a particular focus on the conflation often made between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The paper will argue that the two perspectives need disentangled so that the dangerous contemporary growth in antisemitism can be both understood and challenged.
References:
Levine, B. (2014) Antisemitism and anti-racist social work in Lavalette, M. and Penketh, L. (eds) (2014) Race, Racism and Social Work, Bristol, Policy Press