The Charge of Anti-Semitism — Criticism of Israel, State Power, and Political Dissent | Chapter 4 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler
The Charge of Anti-Semitism — Criticism of Israel, State Power, and Political Dissent | Chapter 4 of Precarious Life by Judith Butler Can legitimate criticism of a state’s policies be mistaken—or deliberately mislabeled—as racism? In Chapter 4 of Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence , Judith Butler tackles this contentious issue in a powerful chapter titled "The Charge of Anti-Semitism." With a nuanced and courageous argument, Butler explores how accusations of anti-Semitism have been deployed to silence political dissent, particularly regarding criticism of the Israeli government’s policies toward Palestinians. Watch our full chapter summary from Last Minute Lecture to better understand Butler’s critical distinction between anti-Semitism and political critique: Context: Lawrence Summers and the Politics of Conflation Butler begins by referencing a 2002 speech delivered by Lawrence Summers, then-president of Harvard University, who argued that cert...