The workshop on the topic "More Liberalism, Less Antisemitism? In Times of Political Change: Finding Reliable Partners for Europe's Pluralistic Future" has concluded last week in Łódź.
In light of the results of last weekend's EU elections and the rise of right-wing populist parties aiming to divide societies, it is more important than ever for civil society to stick together and form alliances.
The European Practitioners Network Against Antisemitism (EPNA) met in Łódź, Poland, from June 10 to 12, 2024, for its third gathering. The event was held in collaboration with the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center and brought together 30 practitioners working against antisemitism, as well as scholars from 9 European countries. The focus of the workshop was on the current situation in Poland. The discussions centered around the question of whether, following last year's election of Donald Tusk and the subsequent rollback of illiberal and authoritarian political decisions under the PiS party, the challenge of weakening antisemitism in Poland can also be successfully addressed.
The developments in Poland were used as an example to demonstrate the connection between liberalization and the successful combat against antisemitism. The participants emphasized that the return to the rule of law and democratic principles is crucial for the effective fight against antisemitism. Florian Eisheuer, EPNA Program Director, further explains:
„Our discussions in Łódź have once again highlighted how essential the political underlying conditions at the European and national levels is for the successful combat against anti-Semitic ideologies and narratives. A shift towards more democratic freedoms and opportunities for participation fosters the foundation for a more inclusive and pluralistic society, depriving anti-Semitism of a significant part of its basis."
Key Points of the Workshop:
1/ Overcoming Authoritarian Structures: Jakub Jaraczewski from Democracy Reporting International highlighted the challenges currently faced by the Polish government in restoring the rule of law after eight years under the PiS government. Particularly noteworthy is Poland's resilient and decentralised civil society, which contributed to the change of power last year. This emphasises the resilience and strength of Polish civil society actors.
2/ Status Quo of Anti-Semitism in Poland: Anna Zielinska from the Czulent Jewish Association analysed the current state of antisemitism in Poland. Since the massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023, antisemitic incidents have risen dramatically, with 90.5% of them taking place online. In these times, Poland's civil society must take decisive action against antisemitism.
The workshop also promoted exchange among European practitioners. In working sessions, participants shared best practices and strategies in the fight against antisemitism to develop best practices.
Another network meeting will take place in Serbia in the fall of 2024.
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The European Practitioners Network Against Antisemitism (EPNA) is a platform with the goal of bringing together institutions and individuals actively engaged in combating antisemitism in Europe. EPNA is dedicated to promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation, exchanging expertise, and implementing effective strategies to combat antisemitism. EPNA is a program of DialoguePerspectives. Discussing Religions and Worldviews e.V., an independent, non-partisan European platform based in Berlin, committed to strengthening diversity and democracy in Europe through educational and civil society efforts. EPNA is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
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