Good Jew, Bad Jew is a critique by one of South Africa's foremost political theorists of mainstream understandings of Jewishness. Steven Friedman offers a searing analysis of the weaponisation of anti-Semitism in service of political objectives that support the Israeli state and global white supremacy. Looking specifically at the way in which language is used to shape identities, Friedman uses many examples to illustrate how anyone that opposes the interests and policies of the Israeli state is increasingly defined as anti-Semitic.

The use of anti-racist language to defend racial domination distorts not only the meaning of what it is to be Jewish, but sheds light on how all dogmatic nationalisms function. Friedman uses India and South Africa as examples, but the analysis applies across the world too.

This is a detailed, deeply researched and critical work that will appeal to both specialists and general readers looking for a considered view on how language shapes belief systems, and how the powerful forces of racism and nationalism - and their opponents - are being misrepresented.

Shows how and why the meaning of anti-Jewish racism has been distorted to serve the Israeli state and what this implies for anti-racism today.

About the Author

Steven Friedman is Research Professor associated with the Department of Politics in the Humanities Faculty, University of Johannesburg. He is a political scientist who specialises in the study of democracy; a public commentator; newspaper columnist and a former trade unionist.

Book Information
ISBN 9781776148486
Author Steven Friedman
Format Paperback
Page Count 230
Imprint Wits University Press
Publisher Wits University Press