This one involves The Book of Genesis, Ford Motor Company, and some failed art student named Hitler. Buckle up!

According to Merriam Webster, “Globalism” is defined as “a national policy of treating the whole world as a proper sphere for political influence.” But antisemites call Jews “globalists” because they think Jews support such policies due to their real allegiance – to a secret, international cabal bent on controlling the world and establishing a New World Order (but not the cool one featuring Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash).

Jews were dispersed across the globe by waves of imperialism, especially by the Romans who exiled Jews from Israel and took them, often in chains, to various parts of the Empire.

Scattered across the world – and because non-Jews refused to do business with them – Jews developed trade relationships with Jews in other countries. This global network of craftsmen, bankers and traders (which was definitely impressive enough to ensure a Civ6 economic victory) is cited by antisemites as proof of Jews putting tribe above country. Because that makes total sense.

Then in 1903, the Russian propaganda book Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion re-emphasized (and popularized) the idea of Jews being treasonous due to their business relationships with Jews in foreign countries. Henry Ford loved it, and took time off from crushing unions to boost its ideas in his series of propaganda pamphlets from 1920, The International Jew (really). All of this furthered the idea that Jews, sans homeland, were secretly plotting world domination. As a result, Jews were ostracized, demonized, and purged from influential positions. Think about that next time you see one of those really cool new Ford Broncos.

In the ensuing decades, Hitler (who failed at both painting and winning a war) used the idea to claim Jews were bent on undermining Germany in favor of a world agenda. He cited their “international elements” and how they “conduct their business everywhere,” which harms the good citizens “bounded to their soil, to the Fatherland.” He succeeded in painting Jews as disloyal and as secretly masterminding an attack on Germany (he rarely gave specifics). 

When the word “globalist” surfaced in 1943 (in “War for Man’s Soul”), the narrative was already set – and did the 20th century version of "going viral."

Today, “globalist” is popular thanks to right-wing figures like Steve Bannon and Laura Ingram, both of whom have clear Vitamin D deficiencies. You can even hear leaders in Hungary, England, and the U.S. using it in reference to Jews as traitors. Basically, when they say “globalist,” they mean Jew, full stop.