Seminar: Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in the New Europe

Is it at all relevant to see in
anti-Semitism a parallel to other forms of intolerance, discrimination
and racism? Can our knowledge of anti-Semitism provide new insights
into the politicalisation of group identity, or should islamophobia and
anti-Semitism be seen as two distinct and divergent phenomena in
different societal and historical projects of exclusion?

These
questions will be addressed through a lecture by the distinguished
anthropologist and historian Prof. Matti Bunzl (University of
Illinois-Urbana Champaign) and a subsequent panel debate at HL-senteret
on Sept 16 2009.

09.30  Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism in the New Europe. By professor Matti Bunzl.

  • Bunzl is Associate Professor of Anthropology and History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In his book Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia: Hatreds Old and New in Europe
    (Prickly Paradigm Press, 2007), he offers a lucid historical and
    cultural clarification of the key terms in these ongoing debates, their
    continuities and discontinuities

10.20  Coffebreak

10.30 Panel debate
Participants:

  • Professor in History Christhard Hoffmann,
  • Professor in Philosophy Arne Johan Vetlesen,
  • Professor of Social Work Irene Levin,
  • Lecturer in the History of Religions Dr. Gøran Larsson,
  • Associate Professor in Sociology Pål Veiden, and
  • Professor Matti Bunzl.

The debate will be chaired by social anthropologist associate professor Sindre Bangstad.

The seminar ends at 12.30.