Torkel Brekke is Professor in Religion and Society at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo. He is also affiliated with the Centre for Research on Extremism (C-REX) at the University of Oslo and with the think tank Civita. His research focuses on religion and politics.

'In this probing and important study Torkel Brekke examines why the antagonism to Israel moved from the radical left into the mainstream of Norwegian politics and did so earlier and more powerfully than even in other European, including other Scandinavian countries known for such views. Antisemtism and Social Democracy both illuminates Norwegian peculiarities, while also offering an important initial effort at a comparative historical analysis of one of the major cultural and political ideologies of our time.' Jeffrey Herf, Distinguished University Professor, Emeritus, Department of History, University of Maryland

• Introduction: the King and the case of the missing condolences; Part I. Historical and Ideological Background: 1. The Jews, Zionism and the left; 2. Antisemitism and anti-Zionism – the Soviet legacy; 3. Third worldism and the Zionist menace; 4. The women's movement and anti-Zionism; Part II. Anti-Zionism and the Far Left – The Case of Norway: 5. Norway as a case study; 6. The beginnings of organized anti-Zionism in Norway; 7. Justifying violence; 8. Holocaust distortion – the soviet legacy; Part III. The Anti-Zionism of the Mainstream Left – the Case of Norway: 9. The labor movement, the Palestinians and Israel, 1948–1993; 10. Hope and disappointment: the Oslo peace process and its aftermath, 1993–2000; 11. The radicalization of the trade unions, 2000–2025; 12. The international context: is Norway different?; 13. When the extreme goes mainstream; Conclusion; List of references.

Torkel Brekke is Professor in Religion and Society at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo. He is also affiliated with the Centre for Research on Extremism (C-REX) at the University of Oslo and with the think tank Civita. His research focuses on religion and politics.

'In this probing and important study Torkel Brekke examines why the antagonism to Israel moved from the radical left into the mainstream of Norwegian politics and did so earlier and more powerfully than even in other European, including other Scandinavian countries known for such views. Antisemtism and Social Democracy both illuminates Norwegian peculiarities, while also offering an important initial effort at a comparative historical analysis of one of the major cultural and political ideologies of our time.' Jeffrey Herf, Distinguished University Professor, Emeritus, Department of History, University of Maryland

• Introduction: the King and the case of the missing condolences; Part I. Historical and Ideological Background: 1. The Jews, Zionism and the left; 2. Antisemitism and anti-Zionism – the Soviet legacy; 3. Third worldism and the Zionist menace; 4. The women's movement and anti-Zionism; Part II. Anti-Zionism and the Far Left – The Case of Norway: 5. Norway as a case study; 6. The beginnings of organized anti-Zionism in Norway; 7. Justifying violence; 8. Holocaust distortion – the soviet legacy; Part III. The Anti-Zionism of the Mainstream Left – the Case of Norway: 9. The labor movement, the Palestinians and Israel, 1948–1993; 10. Hope and disappointment: the Oslo peace process and its aftermath, 1993–2000; 11. The radicalization of the trade unions, 2000–2025; 12. The international context: is Norway different?; 13. When the extreme goes mainstream; Conclusion; List of references.