The text provides excerpts from Theodor W. Adorno’s 1962 lecture, “Zur Bekämpfung des Antisemitismus heute”, in which the sociologist analyzes the persistence of anti-Jewish prejudice in post-war Germany, noting its transition into “secondary anti-Semitism” passed down through families. Adorno asserts that anti-Semitism is not an isolated flaw but a consistent part of the authoritarian, right-wing ideological platform, and he argues against facile counter-measures like positive propaganda or appeals to religion. His strategy proposes a duality of efforts: a long-term educational approach aimed at dismantling the authoritarian character structure in children, and a short-term program requiring authorities to confront established prejudices with shock and unwavering societal power. Adorno advises educators to be mindful of the social structures in schools, focusing on moments like the initial shock of school entry, and actively working to disrupt the formation of exclusionary cliques that mirror broader societal prejudices. Ultimately, he stresses that combating bigotry requires militant enlightenment that exposes the underlying mechanisms and falsehoods of anti-intellectual resentment.
