The Paranoid Apocalypse: A Hundred-Year Retrospective on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies Series Book 3)

An in-depth analysis of an anti-semitic conspiracy theory, from its origins in the 20th century to its resurgence today The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, first published in Russia around 1905, claimed to be the captured secret protocols from the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 describing a plan by the Jewish people to achieve global domination. While the document has been proven to be fake, much of it plagiarized from satirical anti-Semitic texts, it had a major impact throughout Europe during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in Germany. After World War II, the text was further denounced. Anyone who referred to it as a genuine document was seen as an ignorant hate-monger. Yet there is abundant evidence that The Protocols is resurfacing in many places. The Paranoid Apocalypse re-examines the text's popularity, investigating why it has persisted, as well as larger questions about the success of conspiracy theories even in the face of claims that they are blatantly counterfactual and irrational. It considers the medieval pre-history of The Protocols, the conditions of its success in the era of early twentieth-century secular modernity, and its post-Holocaust avatars, from the Muslim world to Walmart and Left-wing anti-American radicalism. Contributors argue that the key to The Protocols' longevity is an apocalyptic paranoia that lays the groundwork not only for the myth's popularity, but for its implementation as a vehicle for genocide and other brutal acts. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, first published in Russia around 1905, claimed to be the captured secret protocols from the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 describing a plan by the Jewish people to achieve global domination. While the document has been proven to be fake, much of it plagiarized from satirical anti-Semitic texts, it had a major impact throughout Europe during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in Germany. After World War II, the text was further denounced. Anyone who referred to it as a genuine document was seen as an ignorant hate-monger.Yet there is abundant evidence that The Protocols is resurfacing in many places. The Paranoid Apocalypse re-examines the text's popularity, investigating why it has persisted, as well as larger questions about the success of conspiracy theories even in the face of claims that they are blatantly counterfactual and irrational. It considers the medieval pre-history of The Protocols, the conditions of its success in the era of early twentieth-century secular modernity, and its post-Holocaust avatars, from the Muslim world to Walmart and Left-wing anti-American radicalism. Contributors argue that the key to The Protocols' longevity is an apocalyptic paranoia that lays the groundwork not only for the myth's popularity, but for its implementation as a vehicle for genocide and other brutal acts.The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, first published in Russia around 1905, claimed to be the captured secret protocols from the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 describing a plan by the Jewish people to achieve global domination. While the document has been proven to be fake, much of it plagiarized from satirical anti-Semitic texts, it had a major impact throughout Europe during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in Germany. After World War II, the text was further denounced. Anyone who referred to it as a genuine document was seen as an ignorant hate-monger.Yet there is abundant evidence that The Protocols is resurfacing in many places. The Paranoid Apocalypse re-examines the text's popularity, investigating why it has persisted, as well as larger questions about the success of conspiracy theories even in the face of claims that they are blatantly counterfactual and irrational. It considers the medieval pre-history of The Protocols, the conditions of its success in the era of early twentieth-century secular modernity, and its post-Holocaust avatars, from the Muslim world to Walmart and Left-wing anti-American radicalism. Contributors argue that the key to The Protocols' longevity is an apocalyptic paranoia that lays the groundwork not only for the myth's popularity, but for its implementation as a vehicle for genocide and other brutal acts Introduction : The Protocols At The Dawn Of The 21st Century / Richard Landes, Steven T. Katz -- Pt. I Conceptual Prelude : On Paranoid Politics And Apocalyptic Violence : The Melian Dialogue, The Protocols, And The Paranoid Imperative / Richard Landes -- The Apocalypic Other : On Paranoia And Violence / Charles B. Strozier -- Pt. Ii Medieval Prologue : Cosmic Christian Anxiety And Global Modern Paranoia : The Devil's Hoofs : The Medieval Roots Of The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion / Jeffrey R. Woolf -- Thomas Of Monmouth And The Protocols Of The Sages Of Narbonne / Johannes Heil -- Pt. Iii The Early Years : The Apocalyptic Matrix Of Genesis And Launch : The Antichrist As An Imminent Political Possibilty : Sergei Nilus And The Apocalyptical Reading Of The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion / Michael Hagemeister -- Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion : Thoughts On The French Connection / Jeffrey Mehlman -- Jewish World Conspiracy And The Question Of Secular Religions : An Interpretative Perspectie / Paul Zawadski -- The Turning Point : The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion And The Eschatological War Between Aryans And Jews / David Redles -- Pt. Iv Post-holocaust Protocols : Non-western Variations : The Protocols In Japan / David G. Goodman -- The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion : An Authentic Document In Palestinian Authority Ideology / Itamar Marcus, Barbara Crook -- Pt. V Protocols At The Turn Of The Millennium : The Return Of The Repressed : Anti-semitism From Outer Space : The Protocols In The Ufo Subculture / Michael Barkun -- The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion On The Contemporary American Scene : Historical Artifact Or Current Threat? / Deborah Lipstadt -- Protocols To The Left, Protocols To The Right : Conspiracism In American Political Discourse At The Turn Of The Second Millennium / Chip Berlet -- Pt. Vi Quo Vadis? How To Respond To The Return Of The Protocols? : Conspiracy Then And Now : History, Politics, And The Anti-semitic Imagination / Stephen Eric Bronner -- Jewish Self-criticism, Progressive Moral Schadenfreude, And The Suicide Of Reason : Reflections On The Protocols In The Postmodern Era / Richard Landes. Edited By Richard Landes And Steven T. Katz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.
The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, first published in Russia around 1905, claimed to be the captured secret protocols from the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 describing a plan by the Jewish people to achieve global domination. While the document has been proven to be fake, much of it plagiarized from satirical anti-Semitic texts, it had a major impact throughout Europe during the first half of the 20th century, particularly in Germany. After World War II, the text was further denounced. Anyone who referred to it as a genuine document was seen as an ignorant hate-monger.

Yet there is abundant evidence that The Protocols is resurfacing in many places. The Paranoid Apocalypse re-examines the text’s popularity, investigating why it has persisted, as well as larger questions about the success of conspiracy theories even in the face of claims that they are blatantly counterfactual and irrational. It considers the medieval pre-history of The Protocols, the conditions of its success in the era of early twentieth-century secular modernity, and its post-Holocaust avatars, from the Muslim world to Walmart and Left-wing anti-American radicalism. Contributors argue that the key to The Protocols’ longevity is an apocalyptic paranoia that lays the groundwork not only for the myth’s popularity, but for its implementation as a vehicle for genocide and other brutal acts.

Content: pt. 1. Conceptual prelude -- pt. 2. Medieval prologue -- pt. 3. The early years -- pt. 4. Post-Holocaust protocals : non-western variations -- pt. 5. Protocals at the turn of the millennium : the return of the repressed -- pt. 6. Quo vadis?