Overview
- Collects over 20 original essays by leading scholars in a variety of fields addressing the question of what relevance a given concept has for our understanding of antisemitism
- Provides a framework for studying antisemitism in an intellectually responsible and rich way, precisely at a time when interest in the topic is on the rise
- Employs an array of methods belonging to such diverse fields as cultural and literary studies, intellectual and social history, political science, and critical theory
Part of the book series: Palgrave Critical Studies of Antisemitism and Racism (PCSAR)
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Table of contents (22 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
This volume is designed to assist university faculty and students studying and teaching about antisemitism, racism, and other forms of prejudice. In contrast with similar volumes, it is organized around specific concepts instead of chronology or geography. It promotes conversation about antisemitism across disciplinary, geographic, and thematic lines rather than privileging a single methodological paradigm, a specific academic field, or an overarching narrative.
Its twenty-one chapters by leading scholars in diverse fields address the relationship to antisemitism of concepts ranging from Anti-Judaism to Zionism. Each chapter not only traces the history and major scholarly debates around a key concept; it also presents an original argument, points to avenues for further research, and exemplifies a method of investigation.
Reviews
“The Green/ Sullam volume leads us almost naturally to the last collection under review— in fact a small encyclopedia— edited by Sol Goldberg, Scott Ury, and Kalman Weiser. As befits such a volume, the list of contributors to Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism includes not only historians but also philosophers, psychologists, literary scholars, political scientists, jurists, and an anthropologist.” (Shulamit Volkov, Studies in Contemporary Jewry, Vol. 33, 2023)
“Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism is meant to be a resource and a tool for instructors and researchers around the world who face this very dilemma. Its greatest innovation is in its design. Instead of producing a more usual historical survey of antisemitism through the ages, the editors have solicited a rich and diverse collection of short essays from leading scholars in the field about various concepts associated with the study of antisemitism.” (Paul Hanebrink, Shofar - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol. 40 (3), 2022)
“Rigorous and wholly engaging, Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism is the volume I was missing during my postgraduate degree in Jewish studies. … From a student’s perspective too, the work will certainly be a welcome addition to university reading lists … . Key Concepts also makes a compelling intervention in the field. The twenty-one accessible and original chapters encourage curiosity and innovation over rigidity and prescription.” (Emilie Wiedemann, Shofar - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol. 40 (3), 2022)
“The great gain of the volume is that it has brought Antisemitism research out of the epistemic black hole into which the idea of eternal Antisemitism or of the longest hatred has pushed it and threatens to push it again and again. By placing Antisemitic thought and action in their respective contexts, illuminating the constellations in the occurrence of Antisemitism and determining its ambiguities and ruptures, the volume can sharpen the historical judgment of Antisemitism research, make Antisemitism more clearly comprehensible and thus also better combatable.” (Ulrich Wyrwa, Quest. Issues in Contemporary Jewish History, Issue 21, October, 2022)
“Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism … stands out as such a profound contribution: it sees inquiry as the key to unpacking antisemitism rather than narrow interpretations of potential solutions. … Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism is better poised for experts and scholars in the field looking for a field guide to help in study … .” (Shane Burley, Journal of Social Justice, Vol. 10, 2022)
“The volume is … directed towards scholars of all disciplines studying antisemitism. This is a strength that makes the anthology an important contribution which promotes cross-disciplinary scholarship. For scholars of both the past and of the present, this work presents insightful historical overviews as well as well-grounded explanations of concepts that yield a solid foundation for further research. … will be used by researchers and students alike to orientate the many concepts that circulate in the study of antisemitism(s).” (Jens Carlesson Magalhães, Nordisk Judaistik, Vol. 33 (1), 2022)
“None of its twenty-two contributions runs more than fifteen pages, making each readily digestible. Moreover, there is no redundancy among them. Even someone long engaged in the study of antisemitism could certainly learn from it. … I can also think of numerous times in the past when I wish this book had been available. Admittedly, before opening Key Concepts one may wonder what is left to be said about anti‐ semitism. Quite a lot, it turns out.” (Robert E. Blobaum, H-Net Reviews, h-net.org, September, 2021)
“This book is the rarest of things: a handy reference work that is also intellectually challenging and methodologically innovative. Amidst a spate of recent publications on antisemitism, it stands out as a novel tool that will enhance our understanding of a complex and seemingly intractable phenomenon.”
- Jonathan Karp, Associate Professor in the Departments of History and Judaic Studies at Binghamton University, New York, USA
“Finally, a comprehensive and innovative approach to a contested historical and political phenomenon. The editors break up the topic up into well thought out key concepts, while the authors in turn provide fresh perspectives on a wide array of entangled topics that are essential for understanding antisemitism. Readable, insightful and provocative.”
- Stefanie Schüler-Springorum, Director, Center for Research on Antisemitism, Technical University of Berlin, Germany
Editors and Affiliations
About the editors
Scott Ury is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jewish History and Director of the Eva and Marc Besen Institute for the Study of Historical Consciousness at Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Kalman Weiser is the Silber Family Professor of Modern Jewish Studies in the Departments of Humanities and History at York University in Toronto, Canada.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Key Concepts in the Study of Antisemitism
Editors: Sol Goldberg, Scott Ury, Kalman Weiser
Series Title: Palgrave Critical Studies of Antisemitism and Racism
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51658-1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: History, History (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-51657-4Published: 03 December 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-51658-1Published: 02 December 2020
Series ISSN: 2946-4633
Series E-ISSN: 2946-4641
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVIII, 336
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations, 4 illustrations in colour
Topics: Historiography and Method, Sociology of Religion, Judaism, Religion and Education, Ethnicity, Class, Gender and Crime