From Antisemitism to Anti-Zionism: The Past & Present of a Lethal Ideology(Antisemitism in America)

Leading scholars use the lenses of history, sociology, political science, psychology, philosophy, religion, and literature to examine, disentangle, and remove the disguises of the many forms of antisemitism and anti-Zionism that have inhabited or targeted the English-speaking world in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Although in principle one can be anti-Zionist without being antisemitic, authors document and trace the numerous parallels and continuities between the hoary tropes attached for centuries to the Jewish people and the more recent vilifications of the Jewish state. They evaluate--and discredit--many of the central claims anti-Zionists have promoted in their relentless effort to delegitimize the Jewish state. They show how mainstream anti-racist communities, courses and texts have ignored--or denied--the antisemitic hatred that pervades much of the Muslim world.

About the Author :
Eunice G. Pollack (PhD, Columbia University) is a professor of History and Jewish Studies, University of North Texas. Recent publications include Racializing Antisemitism: Black Militants, Jews, & Israel, 1950 - Present; Antisemitism on the Campus: Past & Present (Ed.); and the prize-winning two-volume Encyclopedia of American Jewish History (coed. with Stephen H. Norwood).

Review :
"This book is a collection of 14 high-quality scholarly articles by 13 contributors from Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Israel. While most of the contributors are willing to acknowledge a distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, they document the plain fact that much anti-Zionism is rooted in, and derives its special intensity from, hatred for Jews and Judaism."--Joseph S. Spoerl, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs "Pollack's volume, in sum, furnishes an outstanding introduction to various dimensions of the anti-Zionist strain of anti-Semitism. All of the essays are engagingly written, very informative and completely accessible to the layman."--David Rodman "Israel Affairs" "This interdisciplinary volume deals with an important topic: Contemporary antisemitism and the disguise it can take in the form of anti-Zionism. This holds particularly true given that after the Holocaust, outright Jew-hatred had become unacceptable, enabling seemingly purely political criticism of the Jewish state to become one possible, coded form of communication. Combining analysis from political science, psychology, Jewish studies, history and sociology, this collection of essays has a strong focus on the United States but takes on a wider global perspective. The book's five parts look at the phenomenon from different angles... David Hirsh thoroughly analyzes common patterns of refusal to regard antisemitism as an objective current phenomenon as well as refusal to address it, particularly on the Left. ... [A]n article by Rafael Medoff on historical antisemitism in the White House ... proves interesting also for contemporary political developments. ... Benjamin Ginsberg has contributed an informative analysis of Christian Zionist and evangelical movements in the United States. ... Neil J. Kressel's detailed and empirically grounded analysis of the neglect of (Muslim) antisemitism in American social science journals, textbooks and university courses steers away from overgeneralizations and gives ample grounds for critically discussing the state of research on racism and prejudice. Kressel proves that an article can both adhere to scientific standards and at the same time be accessible to a non-academic audience." -- Sina Arnold, Journal of Modern Jewish Studies 21:3 "The problems are clear: Hostility to both Israel and Jews at large has been on the upsurge in recent years and shows no signs of abating. It warrants serious attention. In its strongest chapters, this book provides it. However, as Pollack asks in the closing words of her introduction, 'Who will listen?'" --Alvin H. Rosenfeld, Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs 2018 --Alvin H. Rosenfeld, Professor of English and Jewish Studies, Irving M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies, Indiana University "Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs"