A Rumor about the Jews: Conspiracy, Anti-Semitism, and the Protocols of Zion

Description

In its portrayal of Judaism as a worldwide conspiracy dedicated to the destruction of Christian civilization, the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion remains one of the most infamous documents ever written. Despite being proven a crude forgery, the pamphlet managed to pervade twentieth-century thinking, often being twisted to suit its handlers' purposes, and to justify the most extreme persecution of the Jews. In A Rumor About the Jews, Stephen Eric Bronner provides a history of this notorious fabrication—one which has renewed salience in a “post truth” society dominated by “fake news"—and explores its influence on right-wing movements throughout the twentieth century and the ongoing appeal of bigotry. This new edition of Bronner's 2000 classic (described by Kirkus as "the best short book on anti-Semitism") expands the arguments of the first edition, bringing the work up to date in a new political context. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxv Introduction (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 1-8 Antisemitism for Popular Consumption: Selections from the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 9-23 The Text in Context: The Protocols and the Varieties of Antisemitism (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 25-55 The Tale of a Forgery: Inventing the Protocols (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 57-82 Spreading the News: The Protocols Triumphant (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 83-109 Intermezzo: American Populism and the Jews (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 111-125 The Legacy of a Lie: Contemporary Antisemitism and Its Future (Stephen Eric Bronner)....Pages 127-145 Back Matter ....Pages 147-162