Elke Rajal

Elke Rajal is a research associate at the University of Passau (Chair of Sociology, Prof. Dr Karin Stögner).

Her research examines contemporary antisemitism across political spectra and institutional settings, with a particular focus on how crisis narratives and conspiracy myths contribute to extremist mobilisation.

She plays a leading role in projects analysing:

(1) antisemitic conspiracy myths and crisis discourses as pivot points of far-right mobilisation in Bavaria (2024–2027);

(2) “progressive” responses in political and academic milieux to the Hamas-led massacres of 7 October 2023 (2025–2027); and

(3) the German far right and 7 October (2025–2026).

In 2025, she completed her doctoral dissertation on antisemitism and coming to terms with the past in post-Nazi societies. Her publications combine Critical Theory in the tradition of the Frankfurt School with empirical research, including comparative studies of Holocaust education as a means of countering contemporary antisemitism (Educational Review, 2025). She has guest-edited a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism on antisemitism and education (Vol. 8.2), one of the central themes of her work. In addition, she has published extensively on the historical dimensions of National Socialism and its legacies in the present.

Since 2024, she has been co-coordinator of Research Network 31 (Ethnic Relations, Racism and Antisemitism) of the European Sociological Association. In 2025, she joined the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism as a Fellow.

Here are some links to my work I would like to be on my page:

Rajal, Elke (2026): Antisemitismus und Aufarbeitung. Zur Aktualität der postnazistischen Konstellation. Baden-Baden: Nomos. https://www.nomos-shop.de/de/p/antisemitismus-und-aufarbeitung-gr-978-3-7560-3744-5

Guest-edited Journal of Contemporary Antisemitism, Special Issue 8.2 on Education against Antisemitism: https://www.jcajournal.com/vol-82

Edited volume on critical perspectives on antisemitism and education: https://www.wochenschau-verlag.de/Grenzen-der-Erfahrung/41780

Peer-reviewed journal article on guilt and defense in the October 7 debate in Germany: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/de/document/doi/10.26613/jca/8.1.182/html

Peer-reviewed journal article on countering antisemitism through Holocaust education: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00131911.2024.2325068

And here are some keywords to help people find my work: Antisemitism, guilt-defense, Germany, Austria, right-wing extremism, Holocaust education, antisemitism-critical education

image credit: University Library Augsburg, Anatoli Oskin.