The Rebranding of Prejudice: Antisemitic Tropes in Leftist Anti-Capitalist and Anti-Zionist Rhetoric

The Rebranding of Prejudice: Antisemitic Tropes in Leftist Anti-Capitalist and Anti-Zionist Rhetoric

by Donald Harvey Marks 

Physician scientist and 3rd generation veteran 

It is becoming increasingly clear that the dynamics of antisemitism have shifted dramatically in contemporary society. Unlike the 1920s through 1940s, when anti-Semites were often identified as fascist and ultra conservatives, the new anti-Semite is more likely to be a liberal, a leftist, or a communist. This is evident in activities observed at schools like UCLA (my alma mater), USC, Ivy Leagues, and even smaller institutions like Drew University.

The convergence of contemporary leftist anti-capitalist ideology with anti-Zionism provides a mechanism for the absorption and laundering of historic antisemitic stereotypes.

The Leftist Anti-Capitalist Lens

In my opinion, the alliance between pro-Palestinian and antisemitic sentiments can be interpreted—at least in part—through the lens of standard, "tired leftist anti-capitalist ideology". Many on the political left, especially in academic, radical, or socialist circles, frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not merely as a territorial dispute but as a colonial, capitalist oppression narrative.

Within this framework:

1. Israel: Cast as an imperialist project backed by Western powers (especially the U.S.), inherently tied to global capitalism and military-industrial interests.

2. Palestinians: Positioned as the exploited class or proletariat resisting capitalist-imperialist forces.

3. Jews: Portrayed as the capitalist power structure (an antisemitic trope).

This framing reframes the struggle as global capitalist oppression, with the Jewish state serving as the bourgeois oppressor and Palestinians serving as the proletariat.

Absorbing Historical Antisemitic Tropes

The ideological bridge connecting anti-capitalism and anti-Zionism makes it easy for antisemitic views to be rebranded.

Historic antisemitic narratives about Jews controlling banks, media, and commerce often blend—consciously or not—into the leftist critique of "capitalist elites". This process allows for anti-Jewish positions to be adopted conveniently by "shallow leftist activists" while they claim they are only engaging in "anti-Zionism" or "anti-capitalist critique".

Historically, antisemitism has proven to be malleable, able to adapt and disguise itself using the language of whatever dominant political framework is currently in place:

• If right-wing nationalism uses the trope of Jews as "cosmopolitan outsiders," left-wing anti-capitalism uses the trope of Jews as "capitalist exploiters".

• In the context of the pro-Palestinian left, the Jewish state is reframed as the "capitalist-imperialist occupier".

The rebranding mechanism is particularly potent because antisemitism, at its core, is an ideology rooted in centuries-old myths, scapegoating, and dehumanization. These deep roots draw upon historical stereotypes, such as those that portrayed Jews as money lenders in the Middle Ages. Money lending became common among Jews because Christians were forbidden to practice usury, and Jews were excluded from other fields of work by laws forbidding land ownership or guilds refusing them entry.

The character Shylock in The Merchant of Venice exemplifies this connection. Shylock's pursuit of a pound of flesh was fueled by revenge for previous insults (Antonio had previously insulted, physically assaulted, and spat on Shylock dozens of times), massive financial losses, and scorn cast upon his nation. When asked what the pound of flesh is good for, Shylock replies: "To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge".

The Danger of Rebranding Prejudice

When antisemitism is "laundered" through anti-capitalist rhetoric, it achieves legitimacy within progressive spaces. This rebranding enables specific harmful outcomes:

• Antisemitism, by definition, is hostility against Jews as a people, religion, or ethnic group. Consequently, ethnic Jews who are not religious, and may not even identify as Jews, are definitely targets of anti-Semites of all varieties.

• Jewish individuals, especially those who support Israel’s existence, are labeled as "agents of capitalism" or "colonizers," regardless of their personal politics or economics.

• Actions like the vandalism of hostage images can be framed not as antisemitism, but rather as "resistance to capitalist-imperialist propaganda".

Recent events, such as the spring 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, which blocked access to central

campus areas for Jewish students and faculty and included protesters establishing what some described as a

“Jew Exclusion Zone,” underscore the dangers of blurring the distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.

The key to resisting this absorption is to evaluate not just the stated intent of speech or action, but its content, tone,

and real-world effects

If rhetoric about Israel relies on antisemitic stereotypes, denies Jews equal rights afforded to other peoples, or singles out

Jewish individuals or institutions for harm, it has crossed into antisemitism, regardless of the political label the speaker

applies.

 

Additional references can be found on my personal blog page (http://dhmarks.blogspot.com/) and on my Substack.

1. Einstein, Relativity and Relative Ethics https://open.substack.com/pub/donaldhmarks/p/einstein-relativity-and-relative-ethics?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=e4oim

2. Putting a Leftist Anti-Capitalist Lens on the Pro-Palestinian–Antisemitic Alliance https://open.substack.com/pub/donaldhmarks/p/can-the-pro-palestinianantisemitic?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=e4oim

3. You’re Just Another Damn Progressive, Aren’t You? https://open.substack.com/pub/donaldhmarks/p/youre-just-another-damn-progressive?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=e4oim

4. The Long History of Antisemitism at UCLA

5. Did Shylock really want a pound of flesh?

6. Elitists Neocons Neolib oh my. What are they, who are they, and why should I care? by Donald H. Marks.

7. Was Charlie Kirk a hateful Man? Opinionated yes, but Hateful, probably not...