Reviewed by Osinachi I. Okafor, Department of Art History
In their book Why Do People Discriminate against Jews? Jonathan Fox, a Boniuk Institute 2023 Convening attendee, and Lev Topor explore why discrimination against Jews occurs around the world. They base their findings on research from Jewish communities in 76 countries. The authors make a clear distinction between antisemitism, which refers to people's attitudes, and religious discrimination, which involves actual actions that can be measured, such as government-based religious discrimination such as restrictions on religious practices/ institutions/clergy/conversion and proselytizing, and societal-based religious discrimination such as economic discrimination, speech acts, nonviolent property crimes, nonviolent harassment, violence and other types of acts. This distinction is crucial as it allows the authors to focus on tangible incidents rather than abstract ideas, providing factual data that can be objectively analyzed.
The book posits three main reasons for discrimination: religious hostility, anti-Zionism, and conspiracy theories. One surprising finding is that belief in conspiracy theories about Jewish control is often the strongest predictor of both government and social discrimination against Jews. This view challenges the common belief that religious hatred is the leading cause of religious discrimination against Jews. The authors also uncover some unexpected results, such as the idea that more religious people, regardless of their particular tradition, often show less discrimination toward Jews. Their case study on the British Labor Party during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership adds depth to their analysis by examining how antisemintism can manifest within progressive political movements that ostensibly opposed discrimination. The controversy involved accusations that the party was antisemitic due to Corby's actions, such as turning a blind eye to antisemitic speeches and acts, and by associating with antisemitic figures, which ultimately led to his suspension. Again, the authors explain complex issues without oversimplifying them. They use Natan Sharansky's "3D Test," which includes demonization, double-standards, and delegitimization to help differentiate between valid criticism of Israel and antisemitic attitudes. This framework is invaluable for today's heated discussions, offering clear criteria to evaluate when criticism of Israeli policies crosses into antisemitism.
Why Do People Discriminate against Jews? is useful for anyone looking to understand and fight prejudice. It offers evidence-based solutions instead of relying on assumptions. Educators, scholars in religious studies, sociology, political science, and international relations, policymakers, and community leaders can use the insights to address the root causes of discrimination. However, the book sometimes focuses so much on data that it overlooks the lived experiences of those facing discrimination. While the research is thorough, it can make the suffering of individuals seem distant. Additionaly, by concentrating on religious beliefs, anti-Zionism, and conspiracy theories, the authors did not address other social and economic factors contributing to discrimination as fully as they could. They, however, recognize these limitations and aim to spark a broader conversation about antisemitism and discrimination through this text. Their commitment to understanding and tackling these issues is clear and could lead to better strategies for helping Jewish people and other religious and ethnic minority groups who deal with cases of discrimination. With their findings, dominant groups are made aware of different forms of discrimination, so they can work on reducing prejudice and fostering more diverse and pluralistic societies.
Jonathan Fox and Lev Topor. Why Do People Discriminate against Jews? Oxford University Press, 2021.