With antisemitism now virulent and violent on the streets of Europe from London to Paris and beyond, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy gathered this week its 10th annual ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute for Curriculum Development in Critical Contemporary Antisemitism Studies, hosted at St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford. We came together to reflect on the profound need to elevate the study of contemporary antisemitism to a recognized academic discipline; now more than ever.

This year’s intensive two-week seminar brought together the largest cohort of scholars yet, all dedicated to addressing the alarming global rise in antisemitic incidents across the globe. The time has come to shift from purely descriptive accounts to rigorous, analytical scholarship that can inform effective policies and interventions by governments, civil society and academia alike.

Despite significant research and policy efforts, contemporary antisemitism remains insufficiently explored in analytical terms. Unlike other societal issues, there is a glaring lack of comprehensive literature that delves deeply into the dynamics and implications of modern antisemitism. This gap in scholarship prompts a critical question: why are we witnessing a resurgence of antisemitism now? Understanding this phenomenon requires examining its historical context and current societal conditions.

Historical Antisemitism and its Resurgence Today

Historically, antisemitism has been wielded as a tool to destabilize societies and erode democratic values. Before the Second World War and the Holocaust, antisemitism was instrumental in attempts to transform society through exclusion and violence. So why is antisemitism resurfacing in today’s supposedly more enlightened era when the lessons of those dark times have supposedly been learned?

The events of October 7 have brought latent antisemitic sentiments to the forefront, exposing their deep roots in institutions like academia, which have long denied their existence. This interconnectedness across societal spaces necessitates a robust framework to analyse and explain these changes. Understanding the power dynamics driving this resurgence is crucial for developing effective countermeasures. Hamas militants not only murdered, tortured and raped innocent civilians, they recorded it on GoPro cameras to document their actions to inspire and recruit more jihadists from around the world.

The genocidal nature of antisemitism distinguishes it from other forms of xenophobia and bigotry. In the modern era, antisemitism has evolved through distinct phases. The first phase, Christian antisemitism, demonised Jews as spiritually blind and evil for not accepting Jesus, positioning them as obstacles to redemption. The second phase, Western racial antisemitism, framed Jews as an unchangeable racial threat, leading to calls for their eradication, culminating in the Holocaust. Today, we face a postmodern phase where antisemitism targets Jews based on their identity and sovereignty, particularly through the delegitimisation of Israel. This narrative portrays Jews as oppressors, apartheid supporters and colonialists in their own homeland, a view that has permeated higher education and academic discourse. Hamas exemplifies genocide inversion, where despite calling for genocide and carrying out the murder of as many Jews as possible, it accuses Israel of such intentions, leveraging international bodies like the ICC and ICJ to further this narrative.

The intellectual foundations of antisemitism have historically emerged from prestigious universities. Today, academics once again play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions of Jewish identity. At ISGAP, we are developing a notion of Jewish consciousness inspired by Steve Biko’s Black consciousness, emphasising self-definition in combating antisemitism. Drawing on Manuel Castells’ ideas of identity, this approach underscores the importance of Jews defining their own identity rather than being defined by their detractors.

A Crisis of Modernity

Globalisation and neoliberalism are significant factors in the spread of modern antisemitism—neoliberalism advocates for free-market systems and minimal state intervention, resulting in economic disparities and weakened societal cohesion. Islamism similarly calls for a withdrawal from state structures, further eroding societal glue and replacing diverse identities with nationalist sentiments. While globalisation fosters unprecedented interconnectedness, it also marginalises individuals, giving rise to neotribalism and fundamentalist tendencies.

This crisis of modernity has led to new forms of extremism and totalitarianism, manifesting in movements like the Muslim Brotherhood, Trumpism, Brexit, and European hyper-nationalism. These diverse movements share a reactionary push against perceived cultural and political threats, often turning towards authoritarianism. Intellectuals in the West sometimes legitimize these dangerous ideologies, framing antisemitic rhetoric as legitimate political discourse or justified resistance, thus further normalizing antisemitic ideas and emboldening their proponents.

Universities, traditionally bastions of free thought, have become battlegrounds for these ideological conflicts. The demonization of Jews and Israel often begins in classrooms, where complex geopolitical issues are reduced to simplistic narratives of oppressors and oppressed. This fuels a campus culture where anti-Israel sentiment morphs into antisemitism, creating hostility towards Jewish students and scholars.

This trend, from classrooms to campuses, represents an assault not just on Jewish identity but on Western democratic values, as universities become echo chambers suppressing dissent and sacrificing academic rigor for ideological conformity. Addressing this challenge requires reasserting the values of open inquiry, critical analysis, and mutual respect in academic and public discourse to protect both Jewish communities and the democratic fabric of society.

Challenging Intellectual Dishonesty

The correlation between the normalization of Israel hatred and the proliferation of antisemitic attitudes is unmistakable. Simplifying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into dichotomies of oppressor and oppressed perpetuates age-old antisemitic stereotypes. This intellectual dishonesty stifles genuine academic discourse, turning universities into echo chambers where dissenting voices are suppressed, and alternative perspectives are ostracized.

Antisemitism did not perish in Auschwitz; it remains deeply institutionalized. As scholars, we must scrutinize how antisemitism is embedded in our society and higher education. The ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute’s mission therefore is to confront this challenge head-on, fostering an academic discipline dedicated to understanding and combating contemporary antisemitism.

Through rigorous scholarship and open debate, we can dismantle the structures of hate and build a more inclusive and democratic society, in Europe and beyond.

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