In autumn 1962 Theodor W. Adorno gave a lecture on fighting
antisemitism to the German Coordinating Council of Societies for
Christian-Jewish Cooperation, a lecture that remains as topical and
urgent today as it was in the 1960s.
After the Second World War, Germany was grappling with a reluctance to
admit collective guilt for the horrors of the Holocaust and German
society was witnessing the emergence of various forms of hidden or
‘crypto’ antisemitism. In his lecture Adorno demonstrated that
antisemitism is a central and essential element of right-wing
extremism and is identical in structure to racism. It is accompanied
by an authoritarian mindset and a conformist anti-intellectualism.
Moreover, a classic trick used by anti-Semites is to protest against
taboos which prevent them from freely spreading their hate by classing
them as a form of persecution, and to present themselves as victims of
it. The only antidote to this poison is an unwavering loyalty to the
truth in dealing with historical and political realities.
Adorno advocates an anti-authoritarian programme to prevent
antisemitic character development and advises taking firm action
against outbreaks of antisemitic behaviour. His brilliant analysis of
the sources and dangers of antisemitism is as relevant now as it was
sixty years ago.
Les mer
A Lecture
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781509566921
Publisert
2025
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Polity
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter