Anti-Semitism in Russia

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Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 19:03:11 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Anti-Semitism in Russia

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Anti-Semitism in Russia


Anti-Semitism in Russia
 
By David A. Harris
 
NEW YORK
 
Recent high-profile anti-Semitic incidents in Russia raise disturbing
questions about the durability of Russia's fragile democracy.
 
In the latest outrage, Communist lawmaker Albert Makashov last week
delivered a vitriolic speech that led a leading Russian newspaper to
state in a front-page headline: "Pogroms are not far off."
 
Anti-Semitic incidents, whether perpetrated by leaders of the
Communist Party or by neo-Nazi groups, constitute warning flags that
should should not be ignored, especially in the current environment of
economic and social distress in Russia.
 
Given Russia's history, which lacks any sustained encounter with
democracy, Russia's democratic experiment is not assured of
permanence. Indeed, this embryonic democracy could yield - perhaps in
next year's elections - to a more nationalistic, authoritarian, or
Communist regime, whose rallying cry might well include the alleged
responsibility of the Jews for Russia's stagnation, loss of empire, or
domestic turmoil.
 
The best antidote to stem the recent surge in anti-Semitism would be
consistent unambiguous statements from Russia's political, religious,
and civic leaders, coupled with appropriate action to relegate
anti-Semitism to society's margins.
 
Come elections, will there be Russian politicians with the courage to
denounce unequivocally those who play the anti-Semitic card as part of
their campaign platform and instead appeal to the higher instincts of
the Russian people? Will there be a critical mass of Russian people
prepared to reject any such crude charges against all Jews?
 
We are entering an election period when there will be a temptation to
sound the nationalist theme to pander to a disaffected electorate
looking for simple explanations - and scapegoats - for the country's
serious economic and social problems.

Some key Russian institutions, including the Russian Orthodox Church,
could play a more constructive role in countering anti-Semitism.
 
Until now the church's role has been at best equivocal. It has never
undergone the kind of soul-searching and moral and historical
reckoning regarding its relations with the Jews that the Catholic
Church and many Protestant churches, to their credit, have initiated
in the second half of this century. Such an undertaking is overdue.
 
Moreover, the Russian educational system could surely do much more to
promote concepts of tolerance and understanding among the country's
many nationalities and religious groups, including the Jews.
 
In addition, Russia must enforce its anti-hate laws. There are already
several laws empowering the government to prosecute publishers of
extremist publications, including those deemed to be unabashedly
anti-Semitic. However, these laws have seldom been invoked. That may
be interpreted benignly as just another manifestation of the country's
current inefficiency or more darkly as a calculated unwillingness to
confront the country's hatemongers.
 
History teaches that an accurate barometer of Russian society is the
social condition of the Jewish population. If attacks against Jews
mount, it will speak volumes about the health of Russian society, all
the more so if those political and legal mechanisms available to
counteract these trends are not employed by the competent authorities.
 
If Russia's Jews in urban centers like Moscow and St. Peterburg start
to talk seriously about emigration and begin packing their bags, it
augurs poorly for the future. After all, these are the Jews who,
having had essentially every opportunity to leave in the past decade,
chose to stay, whether for family, professional, or other reasons.
 
These are two parallel strategies to promote the well-being of
Russia's Jews. The first is to strengthen democracy and democratic
institutions in Russia so that Jews - indeed, all peoples who live in
Russia - will be governed by the rule of law, not the law of the
rulers. The West must continue to play its part, notwithstanding the
daunting difficulties.
 
The second is to keep Russia's human rights record and commitment to
democracy central to the American bilateral agenda with Moscow.
Washington's perseverance in the past has helped protect the Jews of
Russia, sending the message that Moscow cannot act with impunity
against this vulnerable minority. Vigilant monitoring of the current
situation must be maintained, for the ongoing threats of anti-Semitism
and scapegoating of Jews, if not checked, could well undermine this
fragile democracy.
 
David A. Harris is executive director of the American Jewish
Committee.
 
This story ran on page A19 of the Boston Globe on 4 March 1999
c Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.

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