Xenophobia and anti-Semitism: general and specific: Newsland Society - comments, discussions and news discussions.

Prerequisites

Biological basis of xenophobia

V. R. Dolnik pointed out that animals have the phenomenon of ethological isolation - aggression and hostility shown by them towards similar species and subspecies. According to Dolnik, for humans, a wary reaction to dissimilar people is inevitable and biologically normal. Although today there are no other species with which humans could interbreed, they were present at previous stages of anthropogenesis. Also, in a person, differences associated with language, tradition, culture, clothing, hairstyle, religion can create an external impression of a different appearance and turn on this mechanism. Thus, according to ethologists, racial and national rejection is based on the failure of a behavioral program designed for another case - species and subspecies differences [2].

According to V. R. Dolnik, xenophobia is a failure of the genetic mechanism, which explains its irrationality and insusceptibility to rational arguments. The self-error functioning of a genetic program can also be genetically determined[3].

Xenophobia could have arisen as an adaptation tool during evolution, which contributed to survival and the transmission of genes to descendants. Thus, the fear of strangers could be, among other things, based on the observation that strangers can be carriers of new, and therefore very dangerous (due to the lack of necessary antibodies) pathogenic microorganisms for indigenous residents[4].

What is xenophobia and how does it manifest itself?

The objects of xenophobia include various groups - religious communities, tribes, states, races, and in general everything and anything that falls under the category of “foreign” for humans. For example, if a xenophobe meets a stranger on the street, this can cause an attack of aggression towards this stranger or, conversely, withdrawal and an attempt to avoid contact in any way. Thus, a xenophobe is a person who experiences fear or hatred of strangers and has a hatred of everything new.

The main problem is that xenophobia causes discomfort not only to the subject of the disease, but also to the object. Fear forces one to “build” barriers between a person and society; this leads to the fact that the personal space is narrowed to a family, a small society of like-minded people, or to complete isolation.

The very concept of xenophobia is divided into social and medical aspects . From the point of view of the social aspect, pathology is expressed in distrust and wariness or aggressive attitude towards representatives of another social group. While the medical aspect manifests itself in a feeling of anxiety or panic when it is necessary to communicate with a “stranger”.

Story

Global mass phobias based on xenophobia arise in the modern era. The “great xenophobias” were formed in Europe, but took on a global character and spread not only to the countries of the “European world.” By the beginning of the 20th century, the “great xenophobia” included the concepts of the “world Jewish conspiracy” and the “yellow peril.” Moreover, these two phobias could merge into one world conspiracy theory. Thus, the far-right Russian politician Vladimir Purishkevich stated that Jews are deliberately sabotaging the fight against the looming “yellow danger” in order to undermine the power of Russia, and Mikhail Menshikov stated that Jews and Chinese are united by “economic parasitism” and “the ancient claim of Asia to own us”[5] .

At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, they were replaced by the concepts of “Islamic threat” and “invasion of migrants”. However, there are also other options for using the concepts of “great xenophobia”, for example, statements that “Western civilization” led by Jews pursues the goal of suppressing the “Islamic world” before further confrontation with the “yellow civilization” [5].

Prerequisites for the emergence of xenophobia

Historically, every person is xenophobic to one degree or another. During the era of conquest, it was everything “foreign” that brought disease and death. The trend towards multinationality in modern states leads to the emergence of protective instincts. There is a fear of becoming insignificant from the point of view of social identity.

Many experts, studying the problem, came to the conclusion that the origin and development of xenophobia was a biological factor. If we draw an analogy with the animal world, then for them xenophobia is a way of isolation, that is, a ban on the formation of interspecific pairs.

Modern society tends to divide the world into “strangers” and “us”. If xenophobia is severe, it can lead to war.

Notes

Xenophobia // BRE. T.16. M., 2010.
[ethology.ru/library/?id=36 Ethology. Ru: Homo militaris]
Dolnik V.R. Naughty child of the biosphere. St. Petersburg, 2003. pp. 72-75
Ghemawat, Pankaj, 2013, p. 273.
↑ 1 2 Dyatlov, Viktor Innokentievich
.
“Yellow Peril” as a weapon of the “world Jewish conspiracy”: on the border of “great xenophobia” // Asian Russia:
collection. scientific Art. - Irkutsk, 2010. - P. 313-329
[www.rg.ru/2005/08/17/ksenofobia.html “53 percent of tolerance”], “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” - Federal issue No. 3849 of August 17, 2005, Leonty Byzov: “Xenophobic sentiments are always provoked by the weakness of the state.”
[www.ng.ru/ideas/2003-10-14/11_xenophobia.html “Why xenophobia has become younger”] “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” dated 2003-10-14, Emil Abramovich Pain - head of the center for the study of xenophobia at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences: “Only One group of respondents—entrepreneurs—demonstrated a significantly lower level of hostility towards migrants of other ethnic origins, although in this group 50% of respondents stated that their attitude towards migrants was “rather negative” and “sharply negative.”

Types of xenophobia

Xenophobia is divided into types according to the principle of direction:

Religious. A religious xenophobe is a person who staunchly and fanatically does not accept any other religion and its practitioners, except his own. A striking example is hatred of Islam. Fear of terrorist acts, for which extremists claim responsibility, gives rise to hatred of Muslims and Islam in general.
Racial. Racism is hatred of people of another race. Ethnophobia – non-acceptance of other peoples. Anti-Semitism is hatred of Jews.
Social. Hatred is directed at certain sections of society. For example: handicapism - hatred of people with disabilities, sexism - rejection based on gender, homophobia - rejection of sexual minorities. Any difference in the social sphere can cause social xenophobia.
Territorial. Here the division is based on “local” criteria - anyone invading someone else’s territory is perceived as an aggressor. And it doesn’t matter whether these are guys from a neighboring area or a foreign guest.

Fighting a phobia

It is unlikely that the expression “fight against xenophobia” would be appropriate; it was previously said that this phenomenon is genetic in nature. Is it really possible to fight the human essence? Of course no!

However, there is prevention of xenophobia, which makes it possible to keep it in its infancy among the majority of the population and not allow it to develop into consequences.

Citizens from a young age are taught to be tolerant of other nationalities. A person must understand that representatives of other cultures have every right to have their own values, customs and holidays. Manifestations of foreign culture should not be perceived as hostile. But it cannot be said that such a fight against phobia has a good result, but adherents of tolerance still appear.

Prevention of xenophobia is also carried out through periodic reminders of criminal liability. Especially when it comes to exemplary sentencing of extremists, terrorists and Nazis.

This phobia is a natural phenomenon in a person’s mind until it results in open hostility. There is no shame in mistrusting, being cautious and keeping your distance from unknown people. Moreover, this is a manifestation of the instinct of self-preservation. When mistrust turns into paranoia, then treatment should be sought.

Excerpt characterizing Xenophobia

- Oh, Don Juan! Oh snake! – voices were heard. “You don’t know, Bolkonsky,” Bilibin turned to Prince Andrei, “that all the horrors of the French army (I almost said the Russian army) are nothing compared to what this man did between women.” “La femme est la compagne de l'homme, [[A woman is a man's friend," said Prince Hippolyte and began to look through the lorgnette at his raised legs. Bilibin and ours burst out laughing, looking into Ippolit’s eyes. Prince Andrei saw that this Ippolit, whom he (had to admit) was almost jealous of his wife, was a buffoon in this society. “No, I must treat you to Kuragin,” Bilibin said quietly to Bolkonsky. – He is charming when he talks about politics, you need to see this importance. He sat down next to Hippolytus and, gathering folds on his forehead, began a conversation with him about politics. Prince Andrei and others surrounded both. “Le cabinet de Berlin ne peut pas exprimer un sentiment d'alliance,” Hippolyte began, looking at everyone significantly, “sans exprimer... comme dans sa derieniere note... vous comprenez... vous comprenez... et puis si sa Majeste l'Empereur ne deroge pas au principe de notre alliance... [[The Berlin cabinet cannot express its opinion on the alliance without expressing... as in its last note... you understand... you understand... however, if His Majesty the Emperor does not change the essence of our alliance...] Attendez, je n 'ai pas fini... - he said to Prince Andrei, grabbing his hand. – Je suppose que l'intervention sera plus forte que la non intervention. Et...” He paused. – On ne pourra pas imputer a la fin de non recevoir notre depeche du 28 novembre. Voila comment tout cela finira. [[Wait, I haven't finished. I think that intervention will be stronger than non-intervention. And... It is impossible to consider the matter over if our dispatch of November 28 is not accepted. This will all end somehow.] he let go of Bolkonsky’s hand, indicating that he was now completely finished. - Demosthenes, je te reconnais au caillou que tu as cache dans ta bouche d'or! [[Demosthenes, I recognize you by the pebble that you hide in your golden lips!] said Bilibin, whose cap of hair moved on his head with pleasure. Everyone laughed. Hippolytus laughed loudest of all. He apparently suffered, was suffocating, but could not resist the wild laughter that stretched his always motionless face. “Well, gentlemen,” said Bilibin, “Bolkonsky is my guest in the house and here in Brunn, and I want to treat him, as much as I can, to all the joys of life here.” If we were in Brunn, it would be easy; but here, dans ce vilain trou morave [[in this nasty Moravian hole] it is more difficult, and I ask all of you for help. Il faut lui faire les honneurs de Brunn. [[We need to show him Brunn.]You take charge of the theatre, I take charge of the society, you, Hippolyte, of course, take charge of the women. – We need to show him Amelie, she’s lovely! - said one of ours, kissing the tips of his fingers. “In general, this bloodthirsty soldier,” said Bilibin, “should be converted to more humane views.” “I’m unlikely to take advantage of your hospitality, gentlemen, and now it’s time for me to go,” Bolkonsky said, looking at his watch. - Where? - To the emperor. - ABOUT! O! O! - Well, goodbye, Bolkonsky! Goodbye, prince; “Come to dinner earlier,” voices were heard. - We'll take care of you. “Try to praise the order in the delivery of provisions and routes as much as possible when you speak with the emperor,” said Bilibin, escorting Bolkonsky to the front hall. “And I would like to praise, but I can’t, as much as I know,” Bolkonsky answered, smiling. - Well, in general, talk as much as possible. His passion is audiences; but he himself does not like to speak and does not know how, as you will see. On the way out, Emperor Franz only gazed intently at the face of Prince Andrei, who stood in the appointed place between the Austrian officers, and nodded his long head to him. But after leaving yesterday’s wing, the adjutant politely conveyed to Bolkonsky the emperor’s desire to give him an audience. Emperor Franz received him, standing in the middle of the room. Before starting the conversation, Prince Andrei was struck by the fact that the emperor seemed confused, not knowing what to say, and blushed. – Tell me, when did the battle begin? – he asked hastily. Prince Andrei answered. This question was followed by other, equally simple questions: “Is Kutuzov healthy? How long ago did he leave Krems?” etc. The Emperor spoke with such an expression as if his whole goal was only to ask a certain number of questions. The answers to these questions, as was too obvious, could not interest him. – At what time did the battle begin? - asked the emperor. “I can’t tell your Majesty at what time the battle began from the front, but in Dürenstein, where I was, the army began the attack at 6 o’clock in the evening,” said Bolkonsky, perking up and at the same time assuming that he would be able to present what was already ready in his head a true description of everything that he knew and saw. But the emperor smiled and interrupted him: “How many miles?” - From where and to where, Your Majesty? – From Durenstein to Krems? - Three and a half miles, Your Majesty. -Have the French left the left bank? “As the scouts reported, the last ones crossed on rafts that night. – Is there enough fodder in Krems? – The fodder was not delivered in that quantity... The Emperor interrupted him. - At what time was General Schmit killed?... - At seven o’clock, it seems. - At 7:00. Very sad! Very sad! The Emperor said his thanks and bowed. Prince Andrei came out and was immediately surrounded on all sides by courtiers. Kind eyes looked at him from all sides and gentle words were heard. Yesterday's adjutant reproached him for not staying at the palace and offered him his home. The Minister of War approached, congratulating him on the Order of Maria Theresa, 3rd class, which the Emperor had bestowed upon him. The Empress's chamberlain invited him to see Her Majesty. The Archduchess also wanted to see him. He didn’t know who to answer, and took a few seconds to collect his thoughts. The Russian envoy took him by the shoulder, took him to the window and began to talk to him. Contrary to Bilibin’s words, the news he brought was received joyfully. A thanksgiving service was scheduled. Kutuzov was awarded the Grand Cross by Maria Theresa, and the entire army received decorations. Bolkonsky received invitations from all sides and had to make visits to the main dignitaries of Austria all morning. Having finished his visits at five o'clock in the evening, mentally composing a letter to his father about the battle and about his trip to Brunn, Prince Andrei returned home to Bilibin. At the porch of the house occupied by Bilibin, a britzka half-stuffed with belongings stood, and Franz, Bilibin’s servant, with difficulty dragging his suitcase, came out of the door.