Contemporary Antisemitism: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices
POLS 349
Fall 2026
3 Units
In-person
3
one-way Exclusions
Course Description
This course addresses key questions about contemporary antisemitism. It examines various ways antisemitism has been conceptualized and identifies its main attributes. It also examines how its contemporary manifestations are similar and different from the past, and how they are expressed in the social and political arenas, and other domains.
Learning Outcomes
- Compare and contrast various definitions of antisemitism; evaluate their strengths and weaknesses; and develop a comprehensive understanding of the concept.
- Analyze the similarities and differences between antisemitism and other forms of racism and prejudice.
- Analyze the relationship between contemporary and older forms of antisemitism to explain how practices of pre-existing ideas have evolved over time to fit the social and political environments of the 21st century.
- Critique a recent work on antisemitism in the realm of culture and explain how the observations of the author do or do not apply to other arenas.
- Conduct an in-depth investigation into one of the themes studied in the course, construct an argument around it, and communicate it in writing.