Christine Achinger

THREATS TO MODERNITY, THREATS OF MODERNITY: Racism and antisemitism through the lens of literature

ABSTRACT This paper illustrates how the study of literature can inform sociological research on racism and antisemitism by sharpening our perception of the commonalities and differences between the respective stereotypes and of their functions for the construction of collective self-identities. Drawing on the case study of Gustav Freytags best-selling novel Soll und Haben (Debit and Credit, 1855), the paper argues that antisemitism and racism frequently represent complementary reactions to the experience of capitalist modernisation.

„Wer immer das jüdische Wesen haßt, der haßt es zunächst in sich.“ Otto Weininger als Theoretiker und Praktiker des Antisemitismus

In einem Sammelband zu Theorien des Antisemitismus auf einen Beitrag über Otto Weininger zu stoßen, mag zunächst überraschen, ist Weiningers Werk doch heute in erster Linie als einflussreiches Beispiel misogynen und antisemitischen Denkens bekannt.* Sein Hauptwerk Geschlecht und Charakter (1903) unternimmt den Versuch, eine Theorie der menschlichen Existenz in der Opposition von männlichem und weiblichem Wesen und im Gegensatz zwischen ‚arischem‘ (bzw. ‚christlichem‘) und ‚jüdischem‘ Geist zu gründen. Der Selbstmord des Autors kurz nach Erscheinen des Buches, im Alter von erst 23 Jahren, machte das Werk zur viel gelesenen Sensation, und Weininger wurde von vielen Zeitgenossen als tragisches junges Genie gesehen. Als Text eines Autors aus jüdischer Familie, der nach Erlangung des Doktorgrades zum Protestantismus konvertierte, wird das Buch heute jedoch in erster Linie als Dokument des „jüdischen Selbsthasses“ oder als Beispiel für den Zusammenhang von Antisemitismus und Geschlechterdiskursen diskutiert.1 Tatsächlich ist das Buch beides: der Versuch, radikal misogyne und judenfeindliche Überzeugungen zum philosophischen System zu

INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE ON RACISM, ANTISEMITISM, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA

The collection of articles included in this volume is based on a selection of papers given at meetings of the European Sociological Association Research Network 31 on ‘Racism and Antisemitism’. This Research Network was officially established at the end of 2008. The history of its formation reflects the changing status of this field within mainstream sociology. Until 2005 there was little space in the public arena where sociological discussions on racism and antisemitism could take place in spite of the fact that many scholars have been dealing with these topics in their research for many years. Concerns over this situation were behind the proposition we made to the ESA Executive Board to hold a Research Stream during the ESA conference in Torun in 2005. We proposed one entitled Sociology of Racism and Antisemitism in the 21st Century in Europe, a topic which fitted the general theme of the conference, New Inequalities. The argument for this proposed stream was that we were living through a time of significant developments in racism and antisemitism in Europe and around the world. New forms of racism and antisemitism were emerging, sometimes under the cover of political or religious movements, sometimes breaking into mainstream discourses, often mediated via the Web. The nature of racism and antisemitism has been changing in a globalised world where traditional forms of racism and antisemitism co-exist with new institutional and personal forms. Our stream took place over eight sessions in the Torun Conference, demonstrating the interest it raised among sociologists. During its preparation we confronted the difficulty of contacting the people working