Antisemitism & the Rise of Fascism
Antisemitism, hatred of Jews, is centuries old. It exists today. It’s a blight on humankind and must be resisted. However, criticism of Israeli state policies should not be conflated with antisemitism. One should also point out that Islamophobia, hatred of Muslims, is on the rise. Fascism is a political term. It should not be used promiscuously. In the 20th century, it starts with Mussolini, followed by Hitler, Franco, and many others. Today, one sees elements of fascism in the United States and elsewhere. There is exaltation of and obedience to the great leader. There is a celebration of militarism and a mythic past. Italian philosopher and author Umberto Eco says fascist traits include “rejection of modernism,” “irrationalism,” “obsession of a plot,” “contempt for the weak,” and “selective populism.”
Speaker
Marci Shore
Marci Shore is an award-winning scholar. She is a Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Her articles and essays appear in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Yale Review, and other newspapers and magazines. She is the author of Caviar and Ashes, The Ukrainian Night, and The Taste of Ashes.
Rick Fry –
“Antisemitism,” whether it is Mark Levin or Tucker Carlson doing the screaming, is extremely topical. But the historical context often is missing.
Marci Shore corrects that in a thorough and very engaging manner.