Antisemitism and the Constitution of Sociology

Book excerpt: Modern antisemitism and the modern discipline of sociology not only emerged in the same period, butOCoantagonism and hostility between the two discourses notwithstandingOCoalso overlapped and complemented each other. Sociology emerged in a society where modernization was often perceived as destroying unity and OC social cohesion.OCO Antisemitism was likewise a response to the modern age, offering in its vilifications of OC the JewOCO an explanation of societyOCOs deficiencies and crises. a"Antisemitism and the Constitution of Sociology" is a collection of essays providing a comparative analysis of modern antisemitism and the rise of sociology. This volume addresses three key areas: the strong influence of writers of Jewish background and the rising tide of antisemitism on the formation of sociology; the role of antisemitism in the historical development of sociology through its treatment by leading figures in the field, such as Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Theodor W. Adorno; and the disciplineOCOs development in the aftermath of the Nazi Holocaust. Together the essays provide a fresh perspective on the history of sociology and the role that antisemitism, Jews, fascism, and the Holocaust played in shaping modern social theory. a"