Most discussions of anti-Semitism understand it too narrowly. They view it variously as a conspiracy theory, a form of discrimination, a prejudice or a type of hate. Such characterisations grossly underestimate its pernicious power.
The Radicalism of fools sees anti-Semitism as a flawed perception of Jews as representing the evils of western civilisation and modernity. Classical anti-Semitism, which emerged in the 19thcentury, saw Jews as embodying the supposed evils of speculative finance and modernity itself. After the Russian revolution the Jews were often seen as representing “Judeo-Bolshevism” too. Israel is seen as representing the pernicious forces of racism and colonialism.
So anti-Semitism is about Jews themselves but they are also seen as symbolising something more. Anti-Semites project their perceived evils of the world on to the Jews.
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