Hirsh - Contemporary Left Antisemitism

David Hirsh is one of our bravest and most thoughtful scholar-activists. In this excellent book of contemporary history and political argument, he makes an unanswerable case for anti-anti-Semitism.

Anthony Julius, Professor of Law and the Arts, UCL, and author of Trials of the Diaspora (OUP, 2010)

For more than a decade, David Hirsh has campaigned courageously against the all-too-prevalent demonisation of Israel as the one nationalism in the world that must not only be criticised but ruled altogether illegitimate. This intellectual disgrace arouses not only his indignation but his commitment to gather evidence and to reason about it with care. What he asks of his readers is an equal commitment to plumb how it has happened that, in a world full of criminality and massacre, it is obsessed with the fundamental wrongheadedness of one and only national movement: Zionism.

Todd Gitlin, Professor of Journalism and Sociology, Columbia University, USA

David Hirsh writes as a sociologist, but much of the material in his fascinating book will be of great interest to people in other disciplines as well, including political philosophers. Having participated in quite a few of the events and debates which he recounts, Hirsh has done a commendable service by deftly highlighting an ugly vein of bigotry that disfigures some substantial portions of the political left in the UK and beyond.

Matthew H. Kramer FBA, Professor of Legal & Political Philosophy, Cambridge University, UK

A fierce and brilliant rebuttal of one of the Lefts most pertinacious obsessions. What makes David Hirsh the perfect analyst of this disorder is his first-hand knowledge of the ideologies and dogmata that sustain it.

Howard Jacobson, Novelist and Visiting Professor at New College of Humanities, London, UK

David Hirshs new book Contemporary Left Anti-Semitism is an important contribution to the literature on the longest hatred. Coming at a time when there is appropriate attention to a resurgence of populist, classic right-wing anti-Semitism, Hirshs work is a reminder that there is no ideological monopoly on anti-Semitism. As he delineates in detail, using Britain as a jumping off point but speaking more broadly, left-wing anti-Semitism is more challenging to identify but is no less pernicious than its right-wing counterpart. In a highly polarized world, understanding anti-Semitism from wherever it emerges is more vital than ever. Hirsh makes a large contribution toward that imperative.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO, Anti-Defamation League, USA

David Hirsh has rightfully emerged as an important voice on the issue of contemporary antisemitism. He writes with passion but with balance and offers insights, to which we may have been previously oblivious, but, after reading what he has to say, seem utterly obvious. This book is not just for those who care about prejudice and antisemitism. It is also a must read for anyone who cares about the contemporary political landscape. It is a wakeup call for those who believe in the ideals and objective of leftist politics.

Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies, Emory University, United States

David Hirsh is not only one of the foremost analysts and authorities on contemporary antisemitism, he is also one of its most redoubtable opponents.

Mark Gardener, Director of Communications, CST, UK

David Hirsh is a relentless investigator into one of the darker corners of contemporary left discourse, always shining a probing, revealing light.

Jonathan Freedland, Author and Journalist, The Guardian, UK

The rise of anti-Semitism on the British leftwhich reached its apex in Jeremy Corbyns capturing the leadership of the Labour Partyis one of the most confounding, and worrisome, developments in contemporary Western politics. A man of the left himself, David Hirsh understands this phenomenon better than anyone, and has the battle scars to prove it.

James Kirchick, Foreign Policy Analyst and Journalist, USA

Todays antisemitism is difficult to recognize because it does not come dressed in a Nazi uniform and it does not openly proclaim its hatred or fear of Jews. This book looks at the kind of antisemitism which is tolerated or which goes unacknowledged in apparently democratic spaces: trade unions, churches, left-wing and liberal politics, social gatherings of the chattering classes and the seminars and journals of radical intellectuals. It analyzes how criticism of Israel can mushroom into antisemitism, and it looks at struggles over how antisemitism is defined. It focuses on ways in which those who raise the issue of antisemitism are often accused of doing so in bad faith in an attempt to silence or smear. Hostility to Israel has become a signifier of identity, connected to opposition, to imperialism, neo-liberalism and global capitalism; the community of the good takes on toxic ways of imagining most living Jewish people.

Weaving together theoretical discussion with case study narrative in an engaging and interesting way, this book is a global study which is essential reading for scholars working in sociology, politics, Middle East studies, Israel studies, Jewish studies, philosophy, anthropology, journalism and history, as well as anyone interested in current affairs and politics.

David Hirsh is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths University, London, UK.

First published 2018

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2018 David Hirsh

The right of David Hirsh to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hirsh, David, author.

Title: Contemporary left antisemitism / David Hirsh.

Description: Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017016011 | ISBN 9781138235304 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138235311 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781315304311 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: AntisemitismGreat BritainHistory 21st century. | Labour Party (Great Britain)History 21st century. | IsraelForeign public opinion, British. | Public opinionGreat Britain. | ZionismGreat BritainHistory21st century.

Classification: LCC DS146.G7 H57 2017 | DDC 305.892/4041dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017016011

ISBN: 978-1-138-23530-4 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-138-23531-1 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-30431-1 (ebk)

Typeset in Bembo