Antisemitism in post-communist Eastern Europe

Surveys of trends in post-communist antisemitism in Eastern Europe reveal contradictory images of the significance of current anti-Jewish manifestations and rhetoric. Examination of the main themes in antisemitic discourse points to the predominance of irrational myths - the "Jewish (or Israeli) conspiracy" and "world-wide Jewish power". In addition, the public debate on the Holocaust and collective responsibility for crimes against the Jews has had a significant impact on public discourse. Questions of national identity, a tendency towards historical distortion and mystification, and the propagandistic accusation of "Jewish guilt" for the repressive communist regimes create contention which leads to anti-Jewish manifestations. Antisemitic motifs appear mainly in political discourse. In order to know whether antisemitic political groups are central or marginal, it is necessary to consider the degree of their acceptance by mainstream political forces, the strength of antisemitic tradition, and the amplitude of public or official reactions against antisemitism. (From the Bibliography of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)