Language:
English
Year of publication:
2009
Titel der Quelle:
Patterns of Prejudice
Angaben zur Quelle:
43,5 (2009) 459-479
Keywords:
Arendt, Hannah,
;
Antisemitism History 1945-
Abstract:
The current debate concerning antisemitism in Europe has led to the emergence of two polar camps: "alarmists" and "deniers". The former see the return of the old antisemitism in a new and mediated guise; the latter consider the rhethoric of antisemitism to be not only anachronistic, but also delusory and deceptive. Overshadowing this debate is the memory of the Holocaust and the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Points to shortcomings of both of these approaches. The "alarmists" are prone to single out the Holocaust from other evils of the epoch and declare it as the ultimate evil. They ascribe antisemitism to entire groups, e.g. critics of Israel, Muslims, or the Left. On the other hand, the "deniers" regard the "alarmists" as one homogenous "camp", rather than several groups with different agendas. Their claim that post-nationalist Europe cannot be antisemitic is unsubstantiated, and their representation of Israel as an incarnation of the negative properties that Europe has managed to overcome is wrong and pernicious. Calls for an end to the opposition between "alarmists" and "deniers", which increasingly is turning into a political conflict, and for finding common ground for discussion.
DOI:
10.1080/00313220903339006
URL:
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