Pitt Scholars to Discuss Professor William I. Brustein's Roots of Hate

PITTSBURGH—Pitt's Center for West European Studies and European Union Center are sponsoring a book presentation for William I. Brustein's Roots of Hate:Anti-Semitism in Europe before the Holocaust (Cambridge University Press,2003). Brustein is the director of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) and a professor of sociology, political science, and historyat Pitt. The book presentation, which is free and open to the public, willbe held at 3 p.m. in 2K56 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, 230

S. Bouquet St.,Oakland.

Roots of Hate examines traditional religious, racial, economic, and

political rationalizations for hatred toward Jews. In his book, Brustein

draws two surprising conclusions about modern anti-Semitism. The first is

that traditional religious anti-Semitism, which is commonly viewed as a

right-wing nationalist phenomenon, no longer exists. "The continuation of

anti-Semitism today is largely of the left," Brustein writes. "Much of the

right-wing basis of anti-Semitism has eroded since 1945." In the book,

Brustein also presents empirical evidence to show that despite its portrayalin the American media, anti-Semitism prevalent 50 to 100 years ago is not re-emerging.

The book presentation will include a panel discussion featuring Pitt

scholars: Vivian Curran, professor of law; John Markoff, professor of

sociology, history, and political science and UCIS research professor; Ilya

Prizal, professor of political science and UCIS research professor of East

European studies; and moderator Alberta Sbragia, director of Pitt's European

Union Center and Center for West European Studies and UCIS research

professor of political science. Each member of the panel will discuss his or her impressions of the book. At the conclusion, Brustein will give his own remarks. Copies of Roots of Hate will be available for sale at the book

presentation

Brustein has published widely in the areas of political extremism, as well

as in ethnic, racial, and religious prejudice. The author of The Logic of

Evil: The Social Origins of the Nazi Party, 1925 to 1933 (Yale University

Press, 1996), he is currently serving on the executive committee of the

Association of International Education Administrators and on the National

Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges' Task Force on

International Education. Before coming to Pitt, Brustein was a McKnight

Distinguished University Professor at the University of Minnesota, where he

also served as chair of the Department of Sociology and director of the

Center for European Studies.

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