What Tools are There to Debunk Popular Antisemitism Theories?

[dorianwallacemusic]

What are the best ways to debunk antiSemitic conspiracy theories, specifically the trope that a Jewish cabal secretly controls the world?

 

[France is Bacon]

What are the best ways to debunk antiSemitic conspiracy theories, specifically the trope that a Jewish cabal secretly controls the world?

One of the most enduring (and somewhat anachronistic) tropes is the Jewish banking conspiracy, based on a previous era when Christians weren’t allowed to lend money at interest.
A fairly simple way to at least open some cracks in that is to look at the state of the modern banking industry.
The biggest UK banks (Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, NetWest, etc) were founded by Anglicans (and Quakers -thanks for the corrections below) but we don’t talk about an Anglican banking conspiracy (and Quakers don’t figure in any global cabal conspiracy theories l’ve ever heard).
America’s largest banks (Wells Fargo, BofA, City, JP Morgan, Chase, et al) were founded by protestants, and the private regional banks that make up the public-facing component of the Federal Reserve banking system are similarly not Jewish owned or founded.
Italy’s banks were founded by Catholics. Swiss banks, thanks to their use by the Nazis to avoid financial sanctions during the war, aren’t generally mentioned much as part of a Jewish conspiracy.
It’s one of the most outdated components of the ‘Jewish cabal’ conspiracy theory, but it persists nonetheless, and it’s rooted in the same history that created tropes about Jews controlling Hollywood and the entertainment industry: namely that for much of history Jews were excluded from most ‘honourable’ professions. They couldn’t join guilds and take up trades, and in some locales they were barred from merchants associations.
Prior to the last century and the ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood, being an entertainer would be one of those less reputable professions where Jews could ply their skill.
It’s a bit of irony that after having been pushed into those previously-maligned industries, Jews’ participation in them now makes up a foundational element of modern antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Edited to clarify/correct a few details per comments below

Edit to include some links:

This link provides a short summary (p. 7) of Jewish exclusion from guilds with references to some further reading (relevant text reproduced below).

https://scholarworks.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1182&context=suurj


Jews and Guilds

Jews were prohibited from joining craft guilds altogether (Rosenwein 223), and their exclusion was just one of many direct attacks on their potential for community and belonging in a Christian-dominated society. In addition, agricultural jobs were an unattractive alternative option because there was always the “possibility of sudden expulsion and the difficulty of obtaining help from Gentile hands” (Lopez 61). Barred from practicing any craft, the only two options available to a Jewish person were to become a moneylender or a long-distance trader. Long-distance trading was one of a very limited number of options for a Jewish person if they were residing along the Mediterranean. Sadly, those Jews who did become traders were at best “tolerated, but nowhere secure” in the Muslim and Christian societies in which they traded (Lopez 62). Exclusion from guilds exacerbated the distance and distrust in an already anti-Semitic time. With Jews absent on frequent lengthy travels for long-distance trade, we

can postulate that many of their neighbors did not even consider them to be a part of the community in which they lived. This distance likely further fueled the insider-outsider divide and antipathy between a guild’s members and non-members. Jewish people had the option

of moneylending because it was an occupation from which Christians were prohibited. Sadly, their success in this field and other lucrative endeavors further increased their unpopularity (Lopez 62). In fact, as Rosenwein reports, one of the motivations to kill Jewish people was so that debtors would not have to pay back their debts (Rosenwein 233). The occupations that Jews were forced into, partially due to guilds’ exclusion of Jews, deepened resentment and increased the generalized fragmentation of guild and non-guild society members.


A short excerpt from a (long!) report by a Swiss government commission on Swiss collaboration with Nazi Germany, with the report linked below:

In another respect, however, Switzerland was anything but an observer. The standard of living of its population was heavily dependent on close economic ties with Europe and overseas, and in particular of course with neighbouring countries. After 1940, trade with Germany thus intensified considerably. Switzerland had a stable, convertible currency that was particularly attractive to a Third Reich which suffered from a perennial shortage of foreign currency. It had efficient road and rail links across the Alps to offer, which represented the shortest route between the two Axis powers, Germany and Italy. In addition, the German-speaking part of Switzerland had close intellectual and cultural links with Germany

Link to report:
https://www.uek.ch/en/schlussbericht/synthesis/ueke.pdf


And a link to a more detailed overview of the history of European antisemitism. Although, it doesn’t directly reference it’s sources, it does include resources for further reading.

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/cont...ism-in-history-the-early-modern-era-1300-1800

I apologise if any of the formatting is awkward; l’m posting from mobile and despite being a longtime lurker here, l think l’ve yet to submit any comments, so l have no experience with inserting links and block quotes

 

[Landru]

One of the most enduring (and somewhat anachronistic) tropes is the Jewish banking conspiracy, based on a previous era when Christians weren’t allowed to lend money at interest.
A fairly simple way to at least open some cracks in that is to look at the state of the modern banking industry.
All of the biggest UK banks (Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, NetWest, etc) were founded by Anglicans, but we don’t talk about an Anglican banking conspiracy.
America’s largest banks (Wells Fargo, BofA, City, JP Morgan, Chase, et al) were founded by protestants, and the private regional banks that make up the public-facing component of the Federal Reserve banking system are similarly not Jewish owned or founded.
Italy’s banks were founded by Catholics. Swiss banks, for obvious reasons, aren’t likely part of a Jewish conspiracy.
It’s one of the most outdated components of the ‘Jewish cabal’ conspiracy theory, but it persists nonetheless, and it’s rooted in the same history that created tropes about Jews controlling Hollywood and the entertainment industry: namely that for much of history Jews were excluded from most ‘honourable’ professions. They couldn’t join guilds and take up trades, and in some locales they were barred from merchants associations.
Prior to the last century and the ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood, being an entertainer would be one of those less reputable professions where Jews could ply their skill.
It’s a bit of irony that after having been pushed into those previously-maligned industries, Jews’ participation in them now makes up a foundational element of modern antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Can you provide some links (evidence) that support your claims?

 

[John J.]

Hi France is Bacon, I very much agree with the spirit of your post. I think it is astonishing, and deeply depressing, that there is so much anti-Semitic "opinion" on the net, and that it isn't called out as much as it should be.

There is a problem, though;

All of the biggest UK banks (Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, NetWest, etc) were founded by Anglicans

Actually, I'm pretty sure Barclays was founded by Quakers.
Quakers (The Society of Friends) are not part of the Anglican Communion.

Added later: Here you go.
https://www.cashfloat.co.uk/blog/money-saving/history-barclays-bank/ CashFlow Blog, "A Short History of Barclays Bank", Sarah Connelly, 27/02/23

The roots of the bank began with two Quakers*, John Freame and Thomas Gould, who were goldsmiths in the city of London.

And, Wikipedia, "Barclays", accessed 11/04/23 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclays

Barclays traces its origins back to 17 November 1690, when John Freame, a Quaker, and Thomas Gould, started trading as goldsmith bankers in Lombard Street, London.

Wikipedia, "John Freame", accessed 11/04/23 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Freame

Freame gained his Freedom of the City on 7 April 1690, giving him the right to open a business within the City of London as a goldsmith, and went into partnership with Thomas Gould, a fellow Quaker.

I haven't any idea about the other banks, and I can't remember why I knew Barclays was started by Quakers- probably from a former neighbour, a delightful and fiercely intelligent lady of senior years (sadly now deceased) who attended Quaker meetings.

 

[John J.]

All of the biggest UK banks (Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays, NetWest, etc) were founded by Anglicans

Er, I feel a bit guilty about this, as the intent of France is Bacon's post is admirable.
However, I decide to have a quick look at UK banks after the Barclays error.

It turns out one of Lloyd's co-founders was also a Quaker (the other, Anglican)- Mr Lloyd himself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyds_Bank Wikipedia, "Lloyds Bank", accessed 11/04/23

The origins of Lloyds Bank date from 1765, when button maker John Taylor and Quaker iron producer and dealer Sampson Lloyd set up a private banking business in Dale End, Birmingham.

Swiss banks, for obvious reasons, aren’t likely part of a Jewish conspiracy.

Well, it's obvious to me in the sense that there isn't a "Jewish conspiracy". So no-one can be a part of it.
But the Edmond De Rothschild Group springs to mind as a Swiss bank started, and owned by, Jewish people.
https://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com/en/Pages/default.aspx

It is difficult to combat ignorance if we don't get our facts right, or rely on our own generalisations- bigots will use any slip, any inconsistency as evidence of a "cover-up" even where none exists.

 

[France is Bacon]

It is difficult to combat ignorance if we don't get our facts right, or rely on our own generalisations- bigots will use any slip, any inconsistency as evidence of a "cover-up" even where none exists.

Agreed, and l appreciate the corrections!
I will update the post shortly and add some links per Landru’s request as well

 

[France is Bacon]

Can you provide some links (evidence) that support your claims?

Will do!