Secular Supersessionism and Post-Christian Europe’s Tolerance for Anti-Semitism

One of the great puzzles of the 21st century concerns the popularity of anti-Zionism among the progressive left, linked with a corresponding enthusiasm for Jihadis (Hamas and Hizbullah) among "anti-war" protesters in Europe, despite their ferocious hostility to every principle of progressive politics. This paper analyzes anti-Zionism as a 21st century mutation of anti-Semitism which has had its greatest success among the progressive left because of a form of "secular supersessionism" in which, those who believe themselves to be at the forefront of global morality, find great pleasure (need?) in demeaning Israel. Like their Muslim and Christian predecessors in this unfortunate psychological syndrome, they make themselves look bigger by making Jews look smaller. The paper concludes with a consideration of the implications of this analysis, for both understanding the "anti-war movement" of the "global progressive left" on the one hand, and for the strengthening of global Jihad in Europe on the other.