In a work of profound historical insight, renowned scholar Mark Mazower turns his analytical gaze to one of the most loaded terms in modern discourse: antisemitism. His new book, On Antisemitism: A Word in History, is not merely a history of prejudice but a critical excavation of the word itself—its invention, its political weaponisation, and its enduring power to shape reality.
The Political Birth of a Prejudice
Mazower begins by jolting the reader with a crucial distinction often lost in contemporary debates. The word 'antisemitism' was not coined by Jews to describe their persecution, but by Wilhelm Marr, a German polemicist, in 1879. His pamphlet, The Victory of Jewry over Germandom, introduced 'Antisemitismus' as a modern, pseudo-scientific alternative to the religiously charged 'Judenhass' (Jew-hatred). This was a deliberate political act, designed to give an ancient bigotry a fashionable, racialised veneer.
As Mazower expertly charts, this origins story is critical. It reveals that antisemitism was, from its very inception, a tool for political mobilisation. It was a banner under which disparate groups could unite, a vocabulary for expressing anxieties about modernity, capitalism, and national identity.
A Chameleon-like Ideology
The book's great strength lies in its analysis of the ideology's adaptability. Mazower demonstrates how antisemitism has consistently mutated to suit the prevailing fears of the era.
- The Racial Turn: In the late 19th century, it shed its religious skin for a racial one, positioning Jews as an immutable biological threat.
- The Communist Scapegoat: Following the Russian Revolution, it was recast, portraying Jews as the masterminds of a global Bolshevik conspiracy.
- The Nationalist Tool: In the post-colonial world, it has been wielded to attack American foreign policy or global finance, often recycling classic tropes in new packaging.
This chameleon-like quality, Mazower argues, is key to its persistence. It is an ideology that offers a deceptively simple answer to complex problems, a 'single-cause theory of history' that pins the world's ills on a single group.
Navigating the Modern Minefield
Mazower does not shy away from the contentious debates of the present. He tackles the complex and often toxic arguments surrounding the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. While acknowledging its utility, he warns against its use as a blunt instrument to stifle legitimate criticism of the Israeli state.
This, he suggests, risks politicising the memory of the Holocaust itself and obscuring the very specific nature of the threat posed by far-right extremism, which remains the primary source of anti-Jewish violence in the West today. The book serves as a plea for precision, arguing that careless application of the term 'antisemite' ultimately weakens the fight against genuine hatred.
An Essential Historical Guide
On Antisemitism: A Word in History is a masterclass in intellectual history. Mazower's prose is, as ever, lucid and authoritative. He condenses a vast and terrible history into a compelling narrative without ever succumbing to simplification.
This is more than just a history book; it is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand the dark currents of prejudice shaping our contemporary world. In an age of rising hate and muddy discourse, Mazower provides the clarity and historical depth urgently required. It is a sobering, brilliant, and indispensable read.
