Modern Antisemitism as Fetishized Anti-Capitalism: Moishe Postone's Theory and its Historical and Contemporary Relevance

Abstract

The enduring legacy of Moishe Postone's work in the fields of intellectual history, sociology, and social theory also finds expression in his influential theory of modern antisemitism and its role in the Holocaust. Grounded in critical reflections on Marxian thought yet unconvinced by Marxist functionalism, Postone theorizes antisemitism primarily from the perspective of (a critique of) political economy. He conceptualizes modern antisemitism as a fetishized form of anti-capitalism that reifies and personifies the abstract features of modern capitalist society. In so doing, Postone founded a new, revised critical theory framework for the study of modern antisemitism and the origins of the Shoah. For Postone, the Holocaust ought to be understood as the violent attempt to destroy “the abstract”—all actual and perceived evils of modern society associated with it—by way of annihilating the Jews. This article critically reconstructs Postone's theory of antisemitism and situates it in its multi-faceted intellectual context. Moreover, the historical and contemporary meaning of Postone's analysis is discussed against the backdrop of its broader reception and critique. It is argued that Postone, limits of his theory notwithstanding, contributes to understanding the relevance and attraction of antisemitic views across various modern political, spatial, and societal contexts—on the Right, the Left, and beyond.