Suchergebnisse

Introduces two analyses of racism & antiracism in Brazil (see abstracts in IRPS No. 84) by arguing for a new visibility of racism. It is contended that white Brazilians as the discriminators of Afro-Brazilians should be the target to effect a change in culture & ideology. It is argued that the main problem facing the black movement is its inability to convince the black population that their unfavorable situation is due to racial discrimination, inequality, or prejudice. 1 Table, 3 References. M. Greenberg

Examines conceptual differences between racism & Islamophobia. The historical significance of Islamophobia is emphasized through Orientalist representations of Islam that racialize the category of Muslim, along with contemporary discourse in international politics based on fears of the Islamization of Europe. Possible comparisons between Islamophobia & anti-Semitism are suggested, noting that Islamophobia is articulated in religious terms, while anti-Semitism has evolved into prejudice against "a people." Characteristics of Islamophobia are described, & examples of Islamophobic discourse are analyzed to highlight the danger of conceptual inflation that goes beyond the racism paradigm, eg, conceptualizations of Bosnian Muslims that led to the demand for "ethnic cleansing." It is contended that Islamophobia is best viewed as a fear or hatred of Muslims, rather than an ideology, making it important to distinguish it from racism even though certain facets of their definitions & expressions coincide. A look at comparative research on Islamophobia & racism focuses on the varied contexts in which Islamophobia is expressed, as well the association between Islamophobia & the politics of integration or multiculturalism. 15 References. J. Lindroth

Bogardus' concept of social distance is used to examine the position of Russian minorities vis-a-vis the titular populations in the former Soviet republics of Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, & Kazakhstan. Maintaining social distance from outgroups is defined as aversive prejudice, ie, simply avoiding contact with outgroup members in the everyday life of workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, & social circles. Analysis of survey data (a total of 2,886 respondents) revealed significant variation among the five republics, with the greatest social distance exhibited in Moldova & the least in Georgia. Social & economic factors affecting the degree of social distance are delineated & the results tabulated. Generally speaking, greater ethnic competition was associated with higher levels of social distance. However, in Georgia, whose economic situation was the worst, there was greater social cohesion, rather than the aversive prejudice one might expect because of competition for scarce resources. Tables. J. Stanton

The theme of staying alive under any condition has been taken as the primary lesson of the Holocaust, relegating moral concerns to the background. This legacy is "sinister, pernicious, & morally destructive." It is accompanied by the phenomena of Jews living on the borrowed identity of their martyred ancestors & the tendency to divide the world into victims & victimizers. This leaves the way open for new persecutors to find willing victims, & for people to adopt a flawed persona without any other reason to feel martyred. They in fact feel comfortable in a world of Jew-haters & barricade themselves against change. Thus, the ghost of the Holocaust cannot easily be exorcised. It is important to remember that even though the Jews were chosen as victims in this instance, the Holocaust was more about prejudice than anti-Semitism, & the nature of the crime of prejudice & the potential threat of genocide that it carries need to be better understood. M. Pflum

Investigates discourse surrounding the Kurt Waldheim affair in Austria since its eruption in 1986 in terms of a we-Other discourse, drawing on an analysis of documents related to Waldheim's actions during WWII; research by historians on Waldheims's war role; newspaper reports, press releases, & documents of the World Jewish Congress; & statements of & interviews with politicians & citizens. It is found that anti-Semitic prejudice is a typical feature of this discourse. Several categories of prejudice are especially evident, eg, stereotypes of Jews as dishonest & tricky, an international Jewish conspiracy (das Ausland), & the notion that Jews are more privileged than other people. Further, texts have engaged in strategies of victim-victimizer role reversals, scapegoating, & distortion in discussions of Jews. These strategies & stereotypes are taken to compose a form of Christian anti-Semitism that has a long history in Austrian culture. More recent forms of discrimination against foreigners (eg, Turks) are shown to be modeled on classic anti-Semitism & augment, rather than replace, the continued Othering of the Jewish people. 28 References. D. M. Smith

An introductory chapter discusses the nature of comparative research on racism, noting that it includes systematic analyses of ethnic prejudice in crossnational settings; policy-oriented studies that map out institutional discrimination or evaluate antidiscrimination measures; & theoretical assessments of the portrayal/treatment of racial or ethnic outgroups in different societies. The aim of most of these studies is to identify & explain significant similarities or differences. Research focused on similarities employs strategies based on the underlying assumption of "brothers under the same skin," while work stressing differences is rooted in a "birds of a different feather" mindset. It is suggested that the different approaches are also associated with different disciplinary areas, ideological positions, & conceptualizations of racism. Other issues discussed include how to compare groups, cultures, or nations; the moral responsibility of researchers; relative costs/benefits of comparative research; effects of cultural bias in research; & links between academic research & policy making. The themes covered by the contributors are outlined, along with questions considered vital for conducting or assessing comparative research. 51 References. J. Lindroth

A comparative sociological study of the way minority Jews perceive themselves to be treated in Romania, the Netherlands, & Curacao tests the validity of R. M. Marrus & R. D. Paxton's (1981) "three concentric circles" theory of contemporary anti-Semitism, that was expanded by M. Wieviorka (1991) into three dimensions of racism: humiliating racism; racism expressed by differentiation; & institutionalized racism. The history of the formation of Jewish communities & current policies affecting them are examined for each country, drawing on data from personal interviews with 20 Jewish people, ages 18-35, in each country. The 170-item questionnaire focused on feelings about Jewish identity, anti-Semitism, relations with Israel, & Jewish/non-Jewish organizations. The results showed that ideas like Jewish identity are not stable concepts. Anti-Semitic attitudes & discrimination were evident in all three countries, & exhibited Wieviorka's first two dimenisions, but not institutionalized racism. Romania exhibited the highest levels of anti-Semitism & discrimination, & the Netherlands the lowest, while the socioeconomic status of Jews in Curacao had a great effect. 3 Tables, 26 References. J. Lindroth

The Christoph Schlingensief performance with the refugee container in front of Vienna State Opera touched and moved people, angered them, or inspired them to reflect critically on their own prejudices and preconceptions. By choosing a central locus in the heart of Vienna, frequented daily by numerous tourists, Christoph Schlingensief managed to attract considerable attention with his artistic-political initiative. Moreover, some tourists thought the performance was the implementation of an actual public initiative to arbitrarily deport as many refugees as possible. Subsequently, Schlingensief was either verbally attacked on television, completely ignored or even derided as politically corrupt, someone who had been 'bought and paid for'. Forcefully engaging with this 'predetermined breaking point', the artist disrupted the power of the asylum dispositif, at least for a brief interval.

"The question of racism in Kant is predominantly discussed using the example of the Kantian race theory. This is a far too narrow perspective which neither gives consideration to the complexity and scope of racist arguments nor to their use by Kant. In order to grasp his contribution to modern racism, his racerelated, antisemitic, antiziganist and orientalist thoughts and typen of discrimination must be examined. The overall view shows that Kant advances a broadly based cultural racism. This racism also shapes his contribution on race theory and results in white supremacy. It prejudices Kant's image of humanity to such a degree that he supposes that only Europeans can perfect the development of human abilities and that other races either have to be guided by them or perish." (author's abstract)

Contends that the variation in ideology & types & degrees of prejudice, supremacy, & oppression are important distinctions to make when examining right-wing movements. Systems of race/gender/class oppression in the hard Right are explored in terms of a dynamic process comprising ideas, acts, & a hierarchical position of dominance that is structural. The Right is divided into the conservative, dissident, & extreme sectors, which all interact. After articulating their commonalities, differences are explored, focusing on the extreme Right, the patriot movement, & the Christian Right. It is concluded that understanding the political Right requires a more sophisticated level of analysis that identifies boundaries, categories, & terminology that delineate differences of degrees; further, systems of oppression based on gender, race, class, & more exist throughout society. 2 Figures. J. Zendejas