"Beneath the surface [of our society]," writes historian Robert Wistrich, are "ancient myths, dark hatreds, and irrational fantasies [that] continue to nourish antisemitism." But the larger question has to do with why we are so prone to believe them. To that end, Steven K. Baum has an answer. In this book, Baum carefully guides the reader through the social mind and explains how the formation of social beliefs can be used as a narrative to determine reality. He offers a new perspective regarding how antisemitic legends and folk beliefs form the basis of our ongoing social narrative. Baum asks the reader to consider a social unconscious-the cauldron of cultural fantasies that consists of superstitions, magical thinking, and racial tales. This witches' brew concocts a Social Voice that can be loud or quiet, benign or hostile, fleeting or permanent. Most importantly, this voice is undeniably antisemitic and racist. As is often the case in the court of public opinion, those who own the narrative, win. In Antisemitism Explained, Baum reminds us to think critically about our own social narrative and to be careful about what we choose to believe.

Auteur

By Steven K. Baum - Foreword by Shimon Samuels

Contenu

Part 1 List of Figures
Part 2 List of Tables
Part 3 Foreword
Part 4 Preface
Part 5 Acknowledgments
Part 6 Introduction
Chapter 7 Chapter 1 Breakfast, UFOs, and the Social Mind
Chapter 8 Chapter 2 The Jew as Legend
Chapter 9 Chapter 3 Principles of Advertising
Chapter 10 Chapter 4 Society's Voice
Chapter 11 Chapter 5 Israel-The Imaginary Jew in Collective
Chapter 12 Chapter 6 The Future of a Delusion
Part 13 Postscript
Part 14 Bibliography
Part 15 Index
Part 16 Appendix
Part 17 About the Author