This initiative is underpinned by what we see to be the current isolation of the study of antisemitism from related fields of scholarly inquiry – the disjuncture between scholars who style themselves experts on antisemitism, on one hand, and, intellectual currents in the fields of history, and specifically, in Jewish history and Jewish studies, on the other. In tandem, scholarly work has often suffered from the politicisation of antisemitism, being on occasion corralled – both by scholars and their audiences – for political ends. Consequently, the study of antisemitism has largely failed to benefit from new thinking and approaches that have invigorated other fields.
These are the challenges, but there are also opportunities.
The aim of this workshop is to test some of the statements made above and importantly, to focus on ways in which we can collectively push the study of antisemitism forward. Among the projects we will consider will be conferences, summer schools, research projects and publications that promote contemporary methodologies and approaches.
Postscript: The Antisemitism Workshop, hosted by the Pears Institute, was the catalyst for the creation of the International Consortium for the Study of Antisemitism and Racism, launched in November 2011. Find out more