Identity, Collective Memory and Antisemitism

Abstract

There is an ongoing right-wing populist revolution in Western democratic societies. Revolution is by definition a period of upheaval. The premise of this paper is that the right-wing populist regimes try to find a level of stability by doubling down on the antiestablishment resentment, authoritarianism and nativism which characterize them. This is achieved through the manipulation of collective identity and collective memory. The present paper analyses the manner in which populist politics are validated, maintained and reinforced by modifying collective memory. For the purpose of this paper, collective memory will be considered as a group identity narrative, a consensual convention which allows for the integration of recalled events in a manner consistent with it and the rejection of events not consistent with it. The increased emphasis on nationalism affects both collective identity and collective memory, leading to the repositioning of the Overton window and causing the re-emergence of previously unacceptable antisemitic attitudes. The present revival of antisemitism is seen as the necessary consequence of the changes caused by the shift toward right-wing populism and authoritarianism.