Oleh Kozerod
Oleh Kozerod’s monograph Current Problems in Combating Antisemitism and Supporting Jewish Communities in Western Europe: 2023–2025 addresses one of the most urgent and politically sensitive issues confronting contemporary European societies. Published in Warsaw in 2026, the 184-page study examines the development of antisemitism and the responses of governments, law-enforcement institutions, international organisations and civil-society groups following the events of 7 October 2023. The book focuses particularly on Western European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, while also considering the broader policy framework of the European Union.
The central value of the study lies in its attempt to connect several dimensions of the contemporary antisemitism problem rather than treating it exclusively as a question of hate crime. Kozerod considers antisemitism in relation to public policy, legislation, security, education, political discourse, social movements, migration and social media. According to the author's research design, the object of the study is the set of socio-political processes affecting Jewish communities after 7 October 2023, while its subject includes the dynamics of antisemitic incidents, governmental policies, security programmes, the activities of non-governmental organisations and the role of European and international institutions.
The chronological framework of 2023–2025 is particularly appropriate. The author treats 7 October 2023 as a major turning point after which the security of European Jewish communities acquired an even more pronounced transnational dimension. The study follows subsequent governmental responses, legislative initiatives, security measures and debates over the relationship between antisemitism, political protest and freedom of expression. This approach enables the author to examine not only the immediate reaction to the attacks but also the evolution of European policies over the following two years.
The structure of the monograph is logical and corresponds to its research objectives. The first section examines the major challenges facing Jewish communities in Western Europe after 7 October 2023. The second focuses specifically on the efforts of the British government to protect the Jewish community during 2024–2025, while the third analyses developments in European Union member states in 2025. The work concludes with general findings and a substantial bibliography and source base.
One of the strongest features of the research is its comparative and interdisciplinary methodology. Kozerod combines historical-comparative analysis, institutional analysis, a systemic approach, content analysis and case studies. The empirical foundation includes government documents, statements by European institutions, reports of monitoring organisations such as the Community Security Trust (CST), CIDI and SPCJ, public-opinion research, media publications, academic literature, parliamentary proceedings and court decisions. This broad source base allows the study to move beyond a purely theoretical discussion and to document specific developments in different national contexts.
The British case receives particular attention. The book demonstrates how the protection of Jewish communities has increasingly become an element of national security policy. Among the examples examined is additional government funding for the Community Security Trust to strengthen security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community institutions. The monograph also considers the increase in antisemitic incidents in British schools, political debates surrounding demonstrations, and the difficulties faced by Jewish students and institutions.
An important analytical dimension is the discussion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The author regards the definition as an important instrument for identifying contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, including forms that may be expressed through anti-Zionist rhetoric. The British experience is presented as an especially significant case because IHRA-related approaches have been incorporated into various governmental, educational and law-enforcement practices. At the same time, the book records debates and legal controversies surrounding the application of the definition, illustrating the broader challenge of combating antisemitism while protecting freedom of speech.
The comparative European perspective is another major contribution of the monograph. Rather than assuming that all Western European countries have adopted identical policies, Kozerod highlights national differences in legislation, institutional arrangements and security practices. The study considers examples from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland, allowing common tendencies to be distinguished from country-specific responses. The book also pays attention to the European Union's strategy for combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, thereby placing national measures within a wider European framework.
The research is particularly relevant because it examines the changing forms of antisemitism. In addition to conventional hate crimes and physical attacks, Kozerod discusses online abuse, antisemitic terminology and coded language disseminated through social networks, especially among younger audiences. The author argues that these new forms can remain difficult to detect and regulate within existing legal frameworks. The monograph therefore makes an important connection between antisemitism, digital communication and the broader process of radicalisation.
The practical significance of the book is considerable. The author identifies potential uses of the research for government institutions developing strategies against antisemitism, Jewish organisations seeking stronger protection, academics and students studying ethnic relations and political extremism, law-enforcement agencies and educational institutions. The study therefore combines an academic research agenda with a clear policy-oriented dimension.
Overall, Kozerod's monograph represents a substantial contribution to the study of contemporary antisemitism in Europe. Its principal strength is the combination of a clearly defined 2023–2025 timeframe, comparative country analysis, extensive empirical material and attention to the interaction between public policy and Jewish communal security. It is particularly valuable for demonstrating that contemporary antisemitism cannot be addressed through criminal-law measures alone: effective prevention also requires education, institutional cooperation, community protection, responsible political communication and appropriate responses to online radicalisation.
The book will be of interest to scholars of political science, modern European history, Jewish studies, sociology, law and international relations, as well as policymakers and practitioners working on minority rights and the prevention of hate crime. By documenting developments across several European countries during a period of exceptional political and social tension, the monograph provides a useful basis for further comparative research into the protection of Jewish life and the resilience of European democratic societies.