Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is the negative perception of Jews, manifestations of which range from verbally [Page 46]expressed antipathy to physical violence toward Jewish individuals, their properties, institutions, communities, and the state of Israel. Expressions of anti-Semitism date back to ancient times and have been evolving ever since, having gone through periods of appeasement and escalation. Prejudice toward Jews can be rooted in a religious, ethnic, cultural, economic, or political background, depending on particular historical situations and social contexts. In the contemporary world, not only do all of these factors remain valid but anti-Semitic sentiment also has been altered by the processes of globalization and the globalization backlash. Therefore, in the 21st century, anti-Semitism constitutes a highly complex phenomenon and continues to be an influential ideology and a ...