Measuring and Explaining the Dimensions of Antisemitism

Presentation of a research project as part of the "Jeudis de la Maison Suger", a residents' research seminar.

This session will bring together Eldad Davidov for a presentation of his ongoing research on the different forms of antisemitism and how they have evolved within public debate. Drawing on data collected in Germany and France, he will highlight the distinctions between legitimate criticism of Israel and expressions of antisemitism. 

Presentation of the project

"The definition of antisemitism has become an increasingly contested issue in public and political spheres, particularly after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Empirical research on antisemitism in Germany has long addressed the complexity of this phenomenon by identifying several dimensions. Classical antisemitism, rooted in historical, religious, and racial prejudices, involves negative stereotypes about Jewish people as a group. Secondary antisemitism, particularly evident in Germany, relates to the relativisation of the Holocaust and the desire to end discussions about Germany’s historical responsibility (Bergmann et al. 2024). Israel-related antisemitism delegitimises the State of Israel, applies double standards, or holds Jewish people collectively responsible for Israeli policies (e.g. Schwarz-Friesel and Reinharz 2017; Sharansky 2004). Earlier studies have demonstrated a clear distinction between these forms and legitimate criticism of Israel (Heyder, Iser and Schmidt 2005). However, recent findings suggest that these dimensions may be increasingly intertwined. Our study aims to assess whether traditional measures and criticism of Israel remain distinct. For the analysis, we use quantitative survey data from Germany and France. We conclude with some implications and final remarks."

Speaker

Eldad Davidov is Professor at the Department for Sociology and Social Psychology at the University of Cologne, Germany. He was president of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) between 2015 and 2017. His research interests are applications of structural equation modeling and measurement to survey data, especially in cross-cultural research. His substantive research addresses topics such as attitudes toward minorities, immigrants and refugees, antisemitism, and causes and consequences of basic human life from a comparative perspective.