The British and the Shoah

A conference on this theme was held in Southampton in February 1989. Tony Kushner outlines some of the motives for holding an event of this type, as well as the frustrations involved.

In his article he examines four periods between 1933 and the present to argue that, far from being marginal and extremist concerns, British racism and antisemitism are part and parcel of British liberal culture. This explains the disinterest and disbelief at all class levels in the true purpose and meaning of Nazi policy, and has hindered acceptance of the significance of the Holocaust.