Mr. Jacobs, what is meant by “academic antisemitism”?
The term refers to the justification and dissemination of antisemitism through academic theory and teaching. It is therefore less about openly articulated hatred of Jews and more about supposedly scholarly teachings and theories that provide points of reference for antisemitic thinking and action.
How does this form of hatred against Jews manifest itself?
Academic antisemitism manifests itself in very subtle ways, yet it is at least as dangerous as open hatred of Jews. In most cases, it is hardly recognizable at first and hides behind seemingly harmless formulas and technical terms that, at first glance, are not easily identifiable as antisemitic. People theorize against global elites, big capital, religion, and of course against the State of Israel. Superficially, it is supposedly about law and justice and allegedly has nothing to do with antisemitism. Yet this is where the lines of argument emerge that provide justification for the dramatically increasing attacks against Jews.
In which academic disciplines is this widespread?
The humanities and social sciences are particularly affected. The book focuses on the discipline of so-called “postcolonialism” as well as related approaches and theories. However, we can also show that Israel-related antisemitism is justified and disseminated in classical approaches of critical theory, in Holocaust and genocide studies, in Middle Eastern and regional studies, and even in international law.
What can be done about it?
Above all, it is important to return to the ideals and principles of scholarly work. Scholarship means critically balanced thinking, sound methods, and openness to results. Well-founded criticism of politics and government action is not excluded by this. However, using the cloak of “scholarship” to decontextualize, scandalize, and emotionalize is an unscientific act of deception. The book aims to contribute to exposing this deception.
