Defining Antisemitism in a Global Context

Abstract

Summarising antisemitism into a universally understood definition is not an easy endeavor. To understand an issue as complex and nuanced as antisemitism, one must first understand and recognize its societal pervasiveness and motivations for use. One of the challenges that this Task Force faced was to cut through the debates of current, established, and recognized definitions for antisemitism, and to recognize their potential limitations, shortcomings, and intents. With this in mind, the structure of our report follows one of analyzing historical antisemitic themes found in modern contexts and addressing a variety of issues and debates in the modern social and political atmosphere in the entirety of their respective complexities, rather than reducing them to fit into existing definitions. Through our research, we found that many of these gray-area issues may not always fit into black and white definitions. Although this report does not seek to ultimately define antisemitism, it intends to promote a higher degree of understanding and recognition for its ongoing forms in today's social and political climates.