Open Course: “Contemporary Anti-Semitism: Ideas, Trends, and Features”

Lecturer – Vyacheslav Likhachov – historian, political scientist, member of the Expert Council of the Center for Civil Liberties, head of the monitoring group on anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Ukraine.

Organizers: Zionist Federation of Ukraine (ZFU), in collaboration with the International Interdisciplinary Certificate Program in Jewish Studies under the auspices of the A. Krymskyi Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and the Diye-Slovo studio. February–March 2024.

Contemporary anti-Semitism is a complex phenomenon. It stands on a deep foundation built over two millennia of religious prejudices and two centuries of modern political theories. However, it is fundamentally different from anything that came before. In the West, it learns to speak in progressive language and gains popularity among young people. In the East, it becomes a convenient tool for channeling anti-Western resentment. Governments and international organizations, which decades ago learned to control overtly neo-Nazi sentiments with some degree of effectiveness, are not only powerless in the face of this new form of anti-Semitism, but they are also easily influenced by it.

Throughout the course, the participants explored the fascinating world of ideas, from exotic conspiracy theories to international law, and examined various groups, from religious fanatics to left-wing radical environmentalists, in all corners of the world, from Japan to Argentina.

A total of 5 lecture meetings were held. After completing the course, participants took a special test and received certificates. The course had 132 registrants, and 47 certificates were issued.

Course participants’ feedback:

“The best and most relevant course. The analysis is better than that of professors published in leading Western journals on the subject of modern anti-Semitism.”
“A wonderful course and an excellent lecturer! Plenty of interesting, important, and new information. The lecturer is pragmatic, in my opinion, which adds a unique depth to the lectures.”
“I really enjoyed the course. It provides a clear, structured understanding of the sources and characteristics of contemporary anti-Semitism and encourages independent study of this phenomenon.”
“A professional course from a researcher with his own well-argued theses. The issue is clearly defined, the content is structured, with open questions that encourage reflection. Thank you!”
“Interesting information and valuable personal observations.”
“Outstanding. Extremely interesting and powerful.”
“A very interesting course. I didn’t realize how the pro-Palestinian movement actually influenced global events.”