Mark Mazower’s "On Antisemitism: A Word in History" analyzes how antisemitism has evolved as a concept and social force, arguing that its meaning has shifted depending on historical context and political needs. The book urges readers to distinguish between antisemitism and criticism of Israel and to address antisemitism as part of a broader struggle against racism rather than isolating it as a unique phenomenon.ceureviewofbooks+2
Antisemitism is not a fixed or “eternal” phenomenon; its meaning and function have continually changed depending on historical, cultural, and political contexts.kirkusreviews+1
The term “antisemitism” was coined in the late 19th century as part of a political reaction to Jewish emancipation in Europe, evolving from religious prejudice into a modern political ideology.ceureviewofbooks+1
The rise of mass politics, the press, and the nation-state shaped antisemitism as a public, collective issue rather than a set of personal biases.ceureviewofbooks
After the Holocaust, definitions and political uses of antisemitism have grown increasingly ambiguous—often conflating hostility to Jews with criticisms of Israel’s policies, leading to confusion and misuse of the term.wsj+2
Mazower uses historical examples from Europe (especially the period 1912–1923 and the Holocaust era) and explores the shifting situations in the United States and the Soviet bloc post-1945, showing how attitudes and institutional responses to antisemitism have changed over time.ceureviewofbooks
The history and adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition is examined as an example of how contemporary debates often fail to provide clarity, instead creating space for opportunistic or politicized uses of the term.ceureviewofbooks
Mazower’s analysis covers how antisemitism is weaponized by different political groups, including right-wing nationalists and certain segments of the left, especially in the US and Europe.wsj
Distinguishing critique of Israeli government actions from antisemitic discourse is essential for productive debate and for properly targeting genuine hate and prejudice.kirkusreviews+1
Antisemitism should be understood and countered as part of a wider anti-racism agenda, not as a uniquely exceptional phenomenon.ceureviewofbooks
Institutions should develop more precise, context-sensitive definitions and policies rather than embracing broad, vague, and potentially politicized formulas.wsj+1
Some reviewers note the book’s focus is largely on the modern, political history of antisemitism, often skipping over the deeper religious roots that also shaped negative attitudes toward Jews in pre-modern Europe.newyorker
Critics argue that parts of Mazower's analysis are more polemical than original and that the book sometimes skirts direct engagement with the most contentious, present-day debates on the subject.thejc+1
Others contend the book risks minimizing the unique devastation caused by antisemitism by subsuming it into broader anti-racist trends, or that its tone occasionally produces “cognitive dissonance” by diminishing urgency.thejc
The book serves as a timely intervention in the current confusion over what constitutes antisemitism, especially amid heated debates over Israel, racism, and free speech.kirkusreviews+1
Mazower’s historical perspective challenges fatalistic attitudes, insisting that antisemitism is context-dependent and thus can be meaningfully confronted and reduced.telegrafi+1
By tracing both the persistence and transformation of this prejudice, the work has significance not only for scholars but also for anyone concerned with fighting bigotry, improving public discourse, and defending democratic institutions.kirkusreviews+2