Why has antisemitism exploded across Western universities, activist movements, and intellectual circles? In this episode of The Western Spirit, Ariel Whitman speaks with Pamela Paresky, a scholar affiliated with Harvard University and contributor to Quillette, about the ideological forces behind the surge of hostility toward Jews and Israel in the West.
Paresky explains how modern movements influenced by Critical Theory, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and post-colonial ideology divide the world into “oppressors” and “oppressed.” Within this framework, Jews and Israel are increasingly cast as villains — regardless of history or facts.
The result is a dangerous shift in which antisemitism adapts to the moral language of the time, reappearing through the rhetoric of social justice, anti-colonialism, and identity politics.
Topics discussed include:
• How DEI and critical theory influence attitudes toward Jews
• Why Israel is often framed as a “colonial oppressor”
• The role of universities in shaping anti-Israel narratives
• Why antisemitism mutates across different historical eras
• How ideology can erase Jewish history and identity
• The psychological and cultural roots of modern antisemitism
Pamela Paresky brings a psychological and cultural perspective to one of the most urgent questions facing Western societies today: why hostility toward Jews keeps returning — in new forms.
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Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Guest Credibility
01:07
Why Hate and Anti-Semitism Are Exploding in the West
02:11
The Influence of DEI Programs on Society and Jews
03:28
Understanding Critical Theory and Its Impact
04:32
Success as a Threat in Critical Theory Paradigm
06:13
Jewish Success and Overrepresentation in Various Fields
07:12
Critical Race Theory and Oppressor vs. Oppressed
08:33
Academic and Institutional Bias Against Jews
09:38
The Role of Anti-Semitic Ideas in Modern Movements
10:40
The Concept of White Supremacy and Jewish Identity
12:03
Lack of Action in Critical Theory and Its Consequences
14:06
Israel’s Success and Global Critical Theory
15:45
Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism as Ideological Tools
17:17
Universities as Hotbeds of Anti-Semitic Ideology
18:04
The Evolution of Anti-Semitism and Its Scientific Roots
19:04
Perception of Jews as Colonialists and Oppressors
19:58
Jewish Emancipation and Anti-Semitic Narratives
21:24
Intellectuals and the Anti-Israel Movement
22:31
The Role of Education and Instinct in Anti-Semitism
23:24
Genocide Claims and Anti-Semitic Propaganda
25:22
Post-October 7th Attacks and Anti-Semitic Violence
27:14
Copycat Attacks and Societal Violence
28:40
Intersectionality and the Oppressor-Oppressed Paradigm
30:06
Language, Identity, and the Oppressor Paradigm
32:32
Conformity, Morality, and the Power of Ideology
34:21
The Power of Groupthink and Moral Pollution
36:46
Corporate and Media Conformity in the Woke Era
37:37
The Ritual of Apologies and Moral Pollution
38:47
Student Movements and the Power of Peer Influence
44:13
The Need for Connection and Collective Effervescence
45:39
The Decline of American Civic Identity and Patriotism
46:08
Habits of a Free Mind and Democracy
56:22
Building Resilience and Free Thinking in Society
01:01:07
The Importance of Touch, Connection, and Human Interaction
01:04:57
The Impact of COVID on Touch and Development
01:06:25
Delays in Independence and Social Development
01:08:55
The Role of Fear, Indoctrination, and Social Anxiety
01:11:11
The Value of Gap Years and International Experiences
01:12:22
The Power of Conversation and Facing Difficult Issues
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