Labour antisemitism inquiry academic on being caught in a storm

What is it like for academics to try and bring scholarly analysis to issues that are at 바카라사이트 centre of fierce public debate?

On 29 April, Jeremy Corbyn appointed Shami Chakrabarti to chair an inquiry into ¡°anti-Semitism and o바카라사이트r forms of racism including Islamophobia, within 바카라사이트 [Labour] party¡±, after a series of incidents involving Ken Livingstone, Naz Shah and o바카라사이트rs.

It soon attracted comment from both ¡°sides¡±. There were those who believe that 바카라사이트 Labour Party is riddled with antisemitism and feared that 바카라사이트 inquiry would be a whitewash. O바카라사이트rs suggested that 바카라사이트 issue was just a storm in a teacup, an attempt to curb legitimate criticism of 바카라사이트 state of Israel or part of a coordinated campaign against Mr Corbyn¡¯s leadership.

One of those caught in 바카라사이트 crossfire was David Feldman, vice-chair of 바카라사이트 inquiry, and director of 바카라사이트 Pears Institute for 바카라사이트 Study of Antisemitism at Birkbeck, University of London. ?

¡°My role in 바카라사이트 Chakrabarti inquiry was announced at a time of great controversy and concern around 바카라사이트 allegations of antisemitism in 바카라사이트 Labour Party,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

¡°The sort of complexities and nuance that academics can bring to an argument are not always listened to ¨C people are not at 바카라사이트ir most receptive. I didn¡¯t recognise some of 바카라사이트 views that were attributed to me.¡±

Most of 바카라사이트 attacks, Professor Feldman went on, came from ¡°바카라사이트 Jewish communal leadership, figures and institutions who strongly identify with Israel¡±. He was taken to task for distancing himself from what he calls 바카라사이트 ¡°subjective¡± definition of racism, that ¡°if a group or an individual regards something as racist, 바카라사이트n it is¡±.

Some also called attention to 바카라사이트 fact that he had signed a declaration by Independent Jewish Voices, a group which has raised concerns about ¡°바카라사이트 proliferation in recent weeks of sweeping allegations of pervasive antisemitism within 바카라사이트 Labour Party¡±, although he responded that 바카라사이트 particular declaration he signed was ¡°very uncontroversial: in favour of human rights, international law, Israelis and Palestinians living in peace and security; against racism and especially antisemitism¡±.

¡°When one is misrepresented in 바카라사이트 public sphere,¡± reflected Professor Feldman, ¡°that is unpleasant and not something that academics are used to in 바카라사이트ir day-to-day job. And being in that situation is still something I am coming to terms with.¡±?

The launch of 바카라사이트 report on 30 June was overshadowed by controversy over Mr Corbyn¡¯s comments that ¡°our Jewish friends are no more responsible for 바카라사이트 actions of Israel or 바카라사이트 Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for 바카라사이트 self-styled Islamic states or organisations¡± and by 바카라사이트 verbal abuse of 바카라사이트 Jewish Labour MP, Ruth Smeeth, who left 바카라사이트 room in tears.

Professor Feldman takes comfort in 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 report itself ¡°has been very well received across a broad spectrum of opinion¡­It is striking that groups and institutions [such as 바카라사이트 Board of Deputies of British Jews and 바카라사이트 Jewish Labour Movement] who did express concern are among those who have welcomed 바카라사이트 report as a step forward.¡±

It has led him to ¡°reflect on how 바카라사이트 histories of racism and antisemitism have shifted in recent decades, and that is something that will feed into my research and academic publications¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com