The link between antisemitism and 19th century racial theory

This week, as part of the ABC’s look at the persistence of antisemitism in Australia and the world, the Religion and Ethics team partnered with ABC TV and Big Ideas here on Radio National. 

In a special episode of Big Ideas, we explored the religious roots of anti-Jewish prejudice because certain Christian and Muslim texts have been manipulated to fit political ideologies. 

A key turning point came in the 1800s, when a racial form of antisemitism began to supplant religious bigotry, with the most lethal consequence by the 1930s and 1940s. 

Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales explained this change to me and my colleague Scott Stephens.  

GUEST:

• Associate Professor Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales