Antisemitism in the Czech Republic: Understanding Current Trends

Abstract

Abstract:The Czech Republic is considered to be a country with low levels of antisemitism. This does not mean, however, that anti-Jewish attitudes have disappeared from Czech society. While it is not an immediate threat, the phenomenon persists in certain specific political and cultural circles. The first section of this article examines the major characteristics of Czech antisemitism through statistics, polls, and other indicators. The second section explores the ideological sources and visual forms of Czech antisemitism. Unlike Western Europe and the United States, the Czech Republic faces challenges involving more traditional forms of antisemitism, such as conspiracy theories and even the blood-libel, which do not respect partisan political divisions and often lead to unexpected alliances.