Language:
English
Year of publication:
2012
Titel der Quelle:
Journal for the Study of Antisemitism
Angaben zur Quelle:
4,2 (2012) 423-442
Keywords:
Antisemitism History 1945-
;
Antisemitism Historiography
;
Antisemitism Psychological aspects
Abstract:
The case of Poland is an example of the endurance of antisemitism without Jews, or at least with a scant Jewish population. Surveys conducted after 1989, by the ADL and other organizations, show that Poland has one of the highest levels of popular antisemitism in Europe. Proposes some explanations. Antisemitism plays several important functions in Polish society. It is one of the informal tenets of Catholic religiosity; it buttresses the denial of responsibility for historical crimes; it supports the Poles' self-perception as the main victims of World War II; and, last but not least, the Jews serve as a scapegoat for various social problems in Poland. Generally, however, there is no link between popular antisemitism and the attitude toward Israel, which is a conspicuously better situation than in other European countries.
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