ISCA Early Career Speaker Series, Session Two: Left-Wing Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

September 10, 2025.

Matheus Alexandré (Federal University of Ceará)  - “Contemporary Left-Wing Antisemitism in Brazil: Discourses and Representations in the Portal Brasil 247”

This talk analyzes rhetorical strategies and ideological tropes in Brazilian leftist media following October 7. Focusing on Brasil 247, it explores how Critical Discourse Analysis can uncover patterns linking antisemitism and anti-Zionism in progressive narratives.

Matheus Alexandré is a Brazilian sociologist and PhD candidate whose research examines antisemitism and anti-Zionism in left-wing political discourse. He lectures at StandWithUs Brazil and was trained at Yad Vashem and the University of Oxford. His work appears in both academic journals and public platforms like Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil.

Maor Shani (Osnabrück University / Ariel University) - “'Unfortunately, Given the Current Climate…': Antisemitism Accommodation as Indirect Discrimination Post-October 7”

This talk introduces the concept of antisemitism accommodation—the indirect exclusion of Jews or Israelis from public and institutional spaces due to appeasement of perceived antisemitic pressure. Dr. Shani analyzes how institutions use neutrality or safety language to justify discriminatory decisions, drawing on psychological theories of conflict avoidance. Preliminary data from an experimental study in academic settings will be presented.

Maor Shani holds a Ph.D. in psychology and researches intergroup conflict, antisemitism, and adolescent polarization. His doctoral work addressed Jewish-Arab reconciliation, and his current projects explore group-based emotions, discrimination coping strategies, and social network interventions. He is affiliated with Osnabrück University and Ariel University.

Music: "Pleasant Porridge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/