Socialism and antisemitism are two malign phenomena that have been surging in the West of late. We rarely think to connect these two things, but in fact, they do intersect in important ways. Economic inequality has fueled resentment and a resurgence of socialist ideas. Many in the West, especially younger generations, feel squeezed by rising prices, the myth of wage stagnation, and a blind assumption that capitalism favors the elite. Socialism, promising redistribution, fairness, and equity, gains traction as a response, seen in the popularity of figures like Bernie Sanders and in movements like Democratic Socialists of America, which grew from 6,000 members in 2015 to over 90,000 by 2021. This pattern isn’t unique to the US—similar trends appear in Europe, with parties like Spain’s Podemos or France’s La France Insoumise tapping into frustration with “neoliberal” policies.

　　Antisemitism has many of the same contours. Jews historically have been scapegoated during economic crises, cast as shadowy capitalists or world-shaping conspirators. Even before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there was a sharp uptick in antisemitic incidents. The World Zionist Organization and The Jewish Agency for Israel reported a 340 percent global surge from 2022 to 2024, with the US seeing a 288 percent jump, 350 percent in Europe, and 562 percent in Canada, with a quarter of those incidents turning violent. Identity politics and woke ideologies, often explicitly neo-Marxist, occasionally revive old prejudices as they push against traditional power structures. Clearly there are some important differences, but it is not mere coincidence that socialism and antisemitism have been rising simultaneously. Both socialism and antisemitism stem from a loss of trust in the foundational elements of a free society.

　　These connections need to be more widely recognized, so I wrote a book to achieve that goal. The Buried Stories of Communism and Socialism explores these connections in a concise introduction suitable for educators. The book counters the rising tide of socialism and the resurgence of antisemitism by equipping teachers with emotionally resonant historical lessons that chronicle human atrocities under communism and socialism in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Its heart-to-mind approach first emotionally engages readers, which is why the book leads with compelling human stories of extreme suffering and loss. It then dissects the tactics that enabled these horrors, drawing parallels to divisive strategies and manipulative tactics used today.

　　The title suggests a dual meaning of the word “buried” referring to the millions of buried bodies as well as their stories—many of which have been deliberately buried (hidden) by governments. The stories in the book expose how socialist regimes, including Nazi Germany, weaponized anti-Jewish sentiment, intertwining it with anti-capitalist narratives. The timing aligns with the urgent need for classroom-ready materials that meet mandates like Florida’s new K-12 requirement to teach the history of communism.

　　Neither socialism nor antisemitism dominates alone; both are symptoms of a broader unraveling of confidence in capitalism and democratic institutions. Economic insecurity, geopolitical friction, and a digital age that thrives on outrage offer neo-Marxism its chance to present an alternative. But history shows that this alternative thrives on oppression and murder and causes suffering and starvation: Cambodia’s Killing Fields under Pol Pot, which killed almost one-fourth of the population; Mao’s Great Leap Forward, which claimed an unimaginable tens of millions of lives; and the devastating dehumanization of the gulags. Ukrainian families watched their children starve during the Holodomor as part of Stalin’s 5-year Plan, resulting in 6-10 million deaths. These stories of mass suffering can be painful to read, but it’s important to humanize the data, making the abstract promises of socialism and Marxist ideology tangible and cautionary, revealing real-world outcomes behind the utopian rhetoric.

　　By examining the devastating consequences of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes and reaffirming the value of liberty, individuals can equip themselves with the knowledge and perspective needed to defend freedom and resist the encroachments of government expansion.

　　These aren’t dry statistics—they’re visceral, human experiences that evoke empathy and outrage. With this background, The Buried Stories unpacks the tactics (like fostering “oppressed versus oppressor” divides, censorship, and fear-mongering) that fueled these atrocities, inviting readers to see similarities in today’s rhetoric, which encourages polarization or identity narratives. Ultimately, the book counters romanticized views of socialism with stark realities, showing how utopian promises led to murderous regimes and unthinkable (and unnecessary) human devastation.

　　Ultimately, my goal was to blend historical insight with philosophical reflection, making the profound moral case for liberty. By examining the devastating consequences of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes such as the USSR, East Germany, China, North Korea, Cambodia, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, and Venezuela, and reaffirming the value of liberty, individuals can equip themselves with the knowledge and perspective needed to defend freedom and resist the encroachments of government expansion. Educators, policymakers, students, and concerned citizens committed to preserving freedom can gain wisdom and perspective to make thoughtful choices in matters of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, thereby propelling citizens toward an enduring legacy of prosperity and human achievement for future generations.

　　The book also fits into a larger educational strategy. Departments of education are now mandating the teaching of communism’s history across all grades. Florida’s mandate starts in 2026–27 under Senate Bill 1264, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024. This law requires “age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate” academic standards on communism’s impact, including its atrocities and the “increasing threat” it posed. The state’s Department of Education must still approve the curriculum and supplementary resources to implement it. The Buried Stories of Communism and Socialism addresses this gap. Florida’s mandate and its 2022 “Victims of Communism Day” law also reflect its broader push to counter dangerous ideological shifts.

　　In July 2022, Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona signed legislation adopting a curriculum focused on the “horrors of communism and socialism,” developed with input from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. While details on grade-level specifics are less explicit than Florida’s, it aims to educate K-12 students about survivor stories and the ideology’s historical impact. In Texas, a 2021 law signed by Governor Greg Abbott overhauled civics education to emphasize American values and historical documents, although it doesn’t single out communism—it’s more about countering “critical race theory” and promoting patriotism. Although the history of communism is baked into existing Texas standards, it is not (yet) due to a new, specific mandate. Other states like Georgia, Indiana, and Louisiana are holding discussions to explore similar options.

　　Federal proposals like the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, passed by the House in December 2024 with a bipartisan 327–62 vote, suggest a broader push. If enacted, it would mandate high school curricula nationwide to cover communism’s history, including its estimated 100 million deaths and ongoing human rights abuses.

　　This book is intentionally concise, with simple, apolitical language. It is meant to serve as a primer, but it also offers recommended resources (books, movies, curriculum, and research) to encourage further exploration. It includes a list of vetted recommendations such as Portraits in Patriotism, which are short videos featuring personal stories by people who survived communism and socialism, and the Dissident Project, which is a free program that sends young survivors of communist and socialist regimes into US classrooms to tell their stories directly to their peers.

　　Bottom-up solutions and increased competition to expand the marketplace of education are even better suited to civic and economic education. My ideal educational solution is a multifaceted approach, emphasizing the idea of incremental privatization. In order to serve those currently in the system, policymakers must support those educators with the tools they will need to successfully educate and inform the next generation. A typical high school teacher teaches approximately 2,000-4,000 students in his or her career, so the strategies outlined above provide a potentially high-impact long-game solution.

　　This momentum is an enormous opportunity to provide a moral case for the freedom that has brought prosperity to billions and enriched civil society across the West. The solution for ignorance and indoctrination includes teaching reason, developing critical thinking skills, and providing timely and relevant tools for historical knowledge-building. As the book concludes, “It is only through a comprehensive education in history, a profound grasp of the ethical foundations of liberty and free enterprise, and a deep understanding of Americas founding principles that we can empower individuals with the wisdom needed to make enlightened choices in pursuit of human achievement and prosperity.”