Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in the New Europe

Can some of the societal and political mechanisms which underpinned the stereotypical portrayals of ‘the collective Jew’ at the beginning of the 20th century be found in the stereotyping of ‘the Muslim’ at the beginning of 21st?
Is it at all relevant to see in
anti-Semitism a parallel to other forms of intolerance, discrimination
and racism? Can our knowledge of anti-Semitism provide new insights
into the politicalisation of group identity, or should islamophobia and
anti-Semitism be seen as two distinct and divergent phenomena in
different societal and historical projects of exclusion?

These
questions will be addressed through a lecture by the distinguished
anthropologist and historian Prof. Matti Bunzl (University of
Illinois-Urbana Champaign) and a subsequent panel debate at HL-senteret
on Sept 16 2009.

09.30  Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in the New Europe. By professor Matti Bunzl.

  • Bunzl is Associate Professor of Anthropology and History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In his book Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia: Hatreds Old and New in Europe
    (Prickly Paradigm Press, 2007), he offers a lucid historical and
    cultural clarification of the key terms in these ongoing debates, their
    continuities and discontinuities

10.20  Coffebreak

10.30 Panel debate
Participants:

  • Professor in History Christhard Hoffmann,
  • Professor in Philosophy Arne Johan Vetlesen,
  • Professor of Social Work Irene Levin,
  • Lecturer in the History of Religions Dr. Gøran Larsson,
  • Associate Professor in Sociology Pål Veiden, and
  • Professor Matti Bunzl.

The debate will be chaired by social anthropologist associate professor Sindre Bangstad.

The seminar ends at 12.30.