Horkheimer sought scientific proof that anti-Semitism is a symptom of hostility to democracy.

Evidence

Horkheimer had great hopes of this part of the project, about which he was sometimes scornful, sometimes enthusiastic. He hoped to use it to provide the AJC with nothing less than `the scientific proof of antisemitism being a symptom of deep hostility against democracy (the Berkeley investigation on a large scale with the results of which we could not only measure antisemitism, but arouse the Administration and all liberal forces of the country, particularly the educators of this nation)’. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1527

Categorization

• XREF: This frames anti-Semitism as a proxy for anti-democratic authoritarianism, the core thesis later systematized in The Authoritarian Personality. — connects to: Horkheimer held that society can be understood through anti-Semitism — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1291; The Berkeley project aimed to prove experimentally that anti-Semitism threatens democracy — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1584; Adorno believed the anti-Semite’s psyche displays the cause of anti-Semitism. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1840 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The Berkeley project aimed to prove experimentally that anti-Semitism threatens democracy #corroborates (0.95) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1584
• Adorno believed the anti-Semite’s psyche displays the cause of anti-Semitism. #expands (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1840
• Horkheimer’s cautious tactical maneuvering stemmed from Jewish insecurity #expands (0.75) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1744
• Horkheimer traced fascist language corruption back through Jewish religious prohibitions against naming God #expands (0.70) — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 701