"Crimean California" and "New Khazaria": The Origins and Mechanics of Antisemitic Myth-Making

Against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East, the most marginal conspiracy theories regarding Jewish people are experiencing a resurgence online. Two of these—"New Khazaria" and "Crimean California"—have gained significant traction across the post-Soviet space. Both myths are closely intertwined and rely on a simplistic narrative asserting that Jewish people are relocating to (or seizing) new territories to sustain their global dominance.

Ultimately, why do individuals construct, adopt, and disseminate conspiracy theories? How did three entirely unrelated concepts—Crimea, California, and the Jewish community—converge into a single myth?

Guest: Konstantin Mogarichev, PhD in History and researcher at Purdue University.