Antisemitism is understood as a negative image of Jews. This is certainly correct, but it shortens the phenomenon. The derogatory image of Jews does not appear in isolation; rather, it is always related to a collective self-image. It is not a racist opposition of 'us' versus 'them.' Instead, the antisemitic image of the Jew constructs a third party that undermines this opposition. The 'Jew' does not embody a different 'inferior' community like the 'foreigner,' but rather represents the 'subversive' counter-image of all community.

The key to understanding antisemitism is the figure of the third party and its relation to a collective self-image. This allows for a clear answer to the question of where to draw the line between antisemitism and criticism of Israeli politics.

This book thus opens up fundamental societal theoretical questions: regarding racism and antisemitism, community and society, communication latency, and post-Nazi nationalism. Klaus Holz and Jan Weyand make a significant contribution to a sociology of antisemitism that is still lacking today: their approach demonstrates that the history of antisemitic attributions is based on the dynamics of collective self-images.

Klaus Holz, Dr. habil., is a sociologist and researcher on antisemitism. He was the long-time Secretary General of the Protestant Academies in Germany. He is currently working as an author and consultant in antisemitism research and prevention for publishers, foundations, and NGOs.