Brustein: Anti-Semitism not coming back

Close your eyes and imagine the summer of 1938, where you will find yourself in the era… Close your eyes and imagine the summer of 1938, where you will find yourself in the era leading to WWII and the height of the Holocaust.

This is the focus of William Brustein’s new book, “Roots of Hate: Anti-Semitism in Europe Before the Holocaust.”

“The book is not about the Holocaust. It is more about the state of the world on the eve of the Holocaust,” Brustein said.

Brustein is the director of the University Center for International Studies and a professor of sociology, political science and history at Pitt.

A book presentation, including a panel discussion featuring Pitt scholars John Markoff, Vivian Curran and Ilya Prizel, was held on Friday in Posvar Hall.

In his book, Brustein examines many questions about anti-Semitism. He researched the rise of anti-Semitism, societal variations of discriminations toward Jews, and where anti-Semitism stands in the category of racial/religious hatred.

In his book, Brustein also explores traditional religious, racial, economic and political rationalizations of hatred toward Jews. He believes that traditional, religious anti-Semitism, which is typically shown as a right-wing nationalist belief, does not exist any longer. His book provides evidence that supports his theory that, despite the somewhat popular belief of the contrary, anti-Semitism is not coming back.

Daniel Jonah Goldhagen’s book, “Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust,” was the target of a part of his argument.

Goldhagen introduces, in his book the idea that anti-Semitism was part of the German culture. Brustein said he believes that Goldhagen’s argument was not well supported, though he pointed out that Hitler was indeed a factor in the anti-Semitic beliefs of Germany.

Markoff, a Pitt professor of sociology, history and political science and a UCIS researcher who spoke about Brustein’s book, said that it is “wonderful to have a book that’s packed with so many interesting ideas.”

In the discussion, Markoff brought up the idea that material interests may have led some people to join the Nazi Party. He also suggested that something else produced anti-Semitism — other than what we already know.

Curran, a Pitt professor of law, described Brustein’s work as “a truly intellectual book.”

“This book is an insistence on reason and coherence,” she said.

Curran emphasized the importance of understanding the role of newspapers during that time period. She criticized Brustein for not doing more extensive research to find not only the significance of newspapers, but also the way this differed among societies. She brought up the idea that government censorship and control of the press could have corrupted the minds of the public.

Prizel, a Pitt professor of political science and UCIS research professor of East European Studies was the final panelist to speak.

“The rise and fall of liberalism directly affected the level of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism discourse across Europe,” he said.

When discussing Brustein’s theory that anti-Semitism is not re-emerging, Prizel said, “history never repeats itself, but [it] does similar itself.”