Antisemitism: A Very Short Introduction

Summary

Antisemitism, as hatred of Jews and Judaism, has been a central problem of Western civilization for millennia, and its history continues to invite debate.

This Very Short Introduction untangles the history of the phenomenon, from ancient religious conflict to 'new' antisemitism in the twenty-first century. Steven Beller reveals how Antisemitism grew as a political and ideological movement in the nineteenth century, how it reached its dark apogee in the worst genocide in modern history—the Holocaust—and how Antisemitism still persists around the world today.

In the edition of this thought-provoking Very Short Introduction, Beller brings his examination of this complex and still controversial issue up to date with a discussion of Antisemitism in light of the 2008 financial crash, the Arab Spring, and the on-going crisis between Israel and Palestine.