Decoding Antisemitism
Description
This open access book is the first comprehensive guide to identifying antisemitism online today, in both its explicit and implicit (or coded) forms. Developed through years of on-the-ground analysis of over 100,000 authentic comments posted by social media users in the UK, France, Germany and beyond, the book introduces and explains the central historical, conceptual and linguistic-semiotic elements of 46 antisemitic concepts, stereotypes and speech acts. The guide was assembled by researchers working on the Decoding Antisemitism project at the Centre for Research on Antisemitism at Technische Universität Berlin, building on existing basic definitions of antisemitism, and drawing on expertise in various fields. Using authentic examples taken from social media over the past four years, it sets out a pioneering step-by-step approach to identifying and categorising antisemitic content, providing guidance on how to recognise a statement as antisemitic or not. This book will be an invaluable tool through which researchers, students, practitioners and social media moderators can learn to recognise contemporary antisemitism online - and the structural aspects of hate speech more generally - in all its breadth and diversity.
Reviews / Votes
"This book provides outstanding guidance for deciphering the antisemitic codes and communication patterns that have spread in unprecedented fashion throughout the social media era. Not only academic researchers, but particularly those working in the educational sector will benefit immensely from what will become a standard work in the field." (Dr Juliane Wetzel, Centre for Research on Antisemitism (ZfA) at Technische Universität Berlin)
"Decoding Antisemitism is an essential resource to specialists who seek to understand the dynamics by which antisemitism is spread in online forums. In addition to providing a necessary understanding of terms, each section of the book provides a more detailed, nuanced, and insightful understanding of how manifestations of antisemitism manifest and then morph in the online sphere. It is a remarkable achievement." (Dr Robert J. Williams, Finci-Viterbi Executive Director, USC Shoah Foundation; Advisor, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; UNESCO Chair on Genocide Education, USA)
"Recognising antisemitism in all its various forms is the first step to tackling it. This is a must-read for anyone concerned about the proliferation of antisemitism online today." (Baroness Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life)
"Antisemitism is more widespread and acceptable, but increasingly 'coded,' reply the editors to their question 'Why is such a guidebook needed?' They mean that new communicative conditions allow antisemitism to be promoted in ways which are not obvious to the non-experts, and tackling internet-age antisemitism requires different tools from those used previously. This book successfully aims to equip researchers with the essential tools for conducting systematic qualitative analysis in the detection of online antisemitism." (Michael Whine, UK Member, ECRI at the Council of Europe, and Chairman of the Working Group on Antisemitism, UK)
"Antisemitism is the chameleon of racism. It changes its appearance with each new epoch. This new work cleverly uncovers the layers of deception in an age of 'alternative facts.' It is an unrivalled guide to the hidden racism of our times." (Colin Shindler, Emeritus Professor, SOAS, University of London, UK)
"Decoding Antisemitism does essential work explaining the complex and nuanced language of contemporary antisemitism, and identifying the ways that this harmful discourse manifests online. This book will be a valuable guide to anybody seeking to understand and track this ever-changing phenomenon." (Dr. Dave Rich, Head of Policy at the Community Security Trust, Author of Everyday Hate: How antisemitism is built into our world and how you can change it (2023) and The Left's Jewish Problem: Jeremy Corbyn, Israel and Antisemitism (2016 & 2018)
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Persons
Matthias J. Becker, a cognitive linguist, is the inventor and Lead of the Decoding Antisemitism research project.
Hagen Troschke is an interdisciplinary researcher focusing on current developments of antisemitism.
Matthew Bolton is Co-Lead on the UK team of the "Decoding Antisemitism" project. He is the co-author of Corbynism: A Critical Approach (2018).
Alexis Chapelan is a PhD candidate at the EHESS in Paris and the University of Bucharest with a focus on the history of political ideologies, extremism and conspiracy theories.
Content
EDITORS' INTRODUCTION.- TAXONOMY OF KEY LINGUISTIC TERMS.- 1. Tropes (classic/canonical).- 1.1. Jews as foreign/the other (Laura Ascone).- 1.2. Evil/Devil (Matthew Bolton).- 1.3. Child murder/Blood libel (Karolina Placzynta).- 1.4. Racist tropes/Dehumanisation.- 1.5. Immorality/Amorality (Jan Krasni).- 1.6. Lie (Hypocrisy/Mendacity) / Deceit (Matthias J Becker).- 1.7. Vengefulness (Jan Krasni).- 1.8. Disloyalty/Dual Loyalty (Hagen Troschke).- 2. Tropes of (political or financial) power.- 2.1 Greed/Exploitation/Identification with capitalism (Matthew Bolton, Chloe Vincent, Alexis Chapelan).- 2.2 Influence on public opinion, politics, economy (& servility) (Matthias J Becker).- 2.3 Conspiracy (Alexis Chapelan).- 2.4 Disintegration (Marcus Scheiber).- 2.5 Self-victimisation (Alexis Chapelan).- 3. Secondary Antisemitism.- 3.1 Clean break (Hagen Troschke).- 3.2 Rejection of guilt (Hagen Troschke).- 3.3 Relativisation/Distortion/ Denial of the Holocaust (Hagen Troschke).- 3.4 Relativisation & Denial of Antisemitism (Marcus Scheiber).- 3.5 Instrumentalisation of the Holocaust (Matthias J Becker).- 3.6 Instrumentalisation of Antisemitism (Matthias J Becker).- 3.7 Nazi-Jewish collaboration (Jan Krasni).- 3.8 Admonisher (Marcus Scheiber).- 3.9 Taboo of Criticism (Alexis Chapelan).- 3.10 Victim-Perpetrator reversal (Hagen Troschke).- 3.11 Jews have not learned from the past (Karolina Placzynta).- 4. Further Post-Holocaust concepts.- 4.1 Blame for Antisemitism (Marcus Scheiber).- 4.2 Holding Jews collectively responsible for IL's actions (Karolina Placzynta).- 4.3 Privilege & Free Pass (Karolina Placzynta).- 4.4 Affirmation of Hitler/Nazis/Holocaust (Jan Krasni).- 5. Attacks on Israel's legitimacy/statehood.- 5.1 Nazi Analogy (Matthias J Becker).- 5.2 Apartheid Analogy/ Racist state (Matthew Bolton).- 5.3 Colonialism Analogies (Laura Ascone).- 5.4 Terrorist state (Matthew Bolton).- 5.5 Genocide (Matthew Bolton).- 5.6 Double Standards (Chloe Vincent).- 5.7 Denial of IL's right to exist (Chloe Vincent).- 5.8 BDS/Boycott (Matthew Bolton/Hagen Troschke).- 5.9 Israel's sole guilt in the conflict (Chloe Vincent).- 6. Self-positioning in speech acts.- 6.1 Insults (Laura Ascone).- 6.2 Threats (Laura Ascone).- 6.3 Curses (Marcus Scheiber).- 6.4 Death wishes (Karolina Placzynta).- 6.5 Affirming, calling for, desiring violence (Laura Ascone).