The mid-term conference of Research Network 31 (Ethnic Relations, Racism, and Antisemitism) of the European Sociological Association (ESA) entitled “Hate in Transition and the Aftermath of 7 October: Antisemitism and Racism in Times of Political Crisis” offered a broad spectrum of theoretical and empirical contributions in around 80 presentations – from historical in-depth studies to analyses of current discourses, political movements and digital public spheres. The conference had a strong international representation: Researchers from the USA, Israel, the UK, Poland, Spain and other countries presented their work and debated in numerous parallel panels. The discussions were characterised by a high level of expertise, controversial debates in an objective tone and a lively, collegial exchange.
“It was three days of in-depth analyses, intense discussions and inspiring talks in an international community”, says ESA Research Network 31 coordinator Elke Rajal, who co-organised the conference. “We set out not only to describe the current situation but also to explore perspectives for research, education and civil society on how critical approaches to antisemitism and racism can remain effective in the changed social context after October 7”, adds conference co-organiser and host Karin Stögner, who holds the Chair of Sociology at the University of Passau.
Key topics included:
- Antisemitism and racism after the October 7th attacks – shifts in public opinion, culture and politics
- Media dynamics – from social networks to traditional media
- Education and prevention – pedagogical approaches and institutional responsibility
- Civil society and scientific counter-strategies – cooperation, standards, evidence-based interventions
The sessions enabled a productive interrelation of diverse thematic and methodological approaches – theoretical, qualitative, and quantitative. “The linking of research on racism and antisemitism, along with comparative case studies, discourse analyses and quantitative surveys, has greatly enriched the discussions”, says Rajal.
Organised by the Chair of Sociology at the University of Passau in cooperation with the European Sociological Association (ESA) and the International Institute for Education, Social, and Antisemitism Research (IIBSA), the conference also drew on the valuable collaboration of the Working Group on Antisemitism Research within the Political Sociology Section of the German Sociological Association. The conference was financially supported by the Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (PICAIS), the European Sociological Association and the German Sociological Association.
Looking ahead, the organisers drew a positive conclusion: The conference had clearly shown the importance of interdisciplinary, international collaboration in advancing research on antisemitism and racism – and that scholarly exchange does much to help place public debates on a more objective foundation.