Politics in Israel
Governing a Complex Society
Published on 3. February 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-0-19-933506-0 (ISBN)
Description
Politics in Israel: Governing a Complex Society is the first textbook on Israel to utilize a historical-sociological approach, telling the story of Israeli politics rather than simply presenting a series of dry facts and figures. The book emphasizes six specific dimensions of the conduct of Israeli politics: the weight of historical processes, the struggle between different groups over how to define the country's identity, changing understandings of
Zionism, a changing political culture, the influence of the external threat environment, and the inclusive nature of the democratic process. These themes offer students a framework to use for understanding
contemporary political events within the country. Politics in Israel also includes several chapters on topics not previously addressed in competing texts, including historical conditions that led to the emergence of Zionism in Israel, the politics of the Arab minority, and interest groups and political protest.
Zionism, a changing political culture, the influence of the external threat environment, and the inclusive nature of the democratic process. These themes offer students a framework to use for understanding
contemporary political events within the country. Politics in Israel also includes several chapters on topics not previously addressed in competing texts, including historical conditions that led to the emergence of Zionism in Israel, the politics of the Arab minority, and interest groups and political protest.
Reviews / Votes
"When Harold Waller and Brent Sasley pondered the idea of writing Politics in Israel, they intended to create 'a text that was readable, touched on major contemporary issues and debates in Israeli politics, and did so by grounding...[the] explanation in a historical- sociological approach that emphasized the processes that led to the creation of the Israeli political system and continue to influence the conduct of Israeli politics'...It can be said, quiteemphatically, that they accomplished their aims...What makes Politics in Israel so compelling and makes it so extraordinarily valuable is its meticulous descriptions of how governments rise and fall and how
their varying policies emerge from attempts to wrestle with the often contradictory foreign and domestic challenges the country must meet. The analytic framework is powerful and reflects as much comfort with data as with the abstract concepts deployed by scholars to tap into values and culture."--Middle East Journal
"Politics in Israel is the best book ever written in English on the history, politics, and government of Israel. It is comprehensive and balanced, comprehensible and interesting, inclusive and wide-ranging, and informative and sweeping in its coverage. The writing is excellent, and the tools that the authors provide are invariably useful."
--Steven Spiegel, University of California, Los Angeles
"Clearly written and logically organized, Politics in Israel offers a judicious portrait of the Israeli political system. It is highly recommended for all courses on Israel at any level."
--Alan Dowty, University of Notre Dame
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-0-19-933506-0 (9780199335060)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Brent E. Sasley is Associate Professor of Political Science at The University of Texas at Arlington.
Harold M. Waller is Professor of Political Science at McGill University.
Harold M. Waller is Professor of Political Science at McGill University.
Content
Abbreviations Preface Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Israel in Historical and Comparative Perspective Studying Israel Israel in a Comparative Framework Major Themes of the Book A Note on Terminology PART I: HISTORICAL PROCESSES
Chronology of Key Events Chapter 2: Zionism and the Origins of Israel Jewish History before Zionism The Jewish Predicament in the 19th Century The Founding of the Zionist Movement Implications of Zionism Herzl's Path to Zionism Organizing the Zionist Movement Zionist Ideologies The Palestine Mandate Summary
Chapter 3: Yishuv Politics during the Mandate Period Constructing a Jewish Society Development of a Party System Conflict between Arabs and Jews in Mandatory Palestine Deteriorating Zionist-British Relations The End of the Mandate The Mandate Period in Perspective Summary
Chapter 4: State Building After 1948 Mamlachtiut The Political Arena Defense Education Economy Personal Status Issues Other State-Building Efforts Summary PART II: ISRAELI SOCIETY
Chapter 5: Political Culture and Demography The Pre-State Period Foundational Values of the State Changes since 1967 From Collectivism to Individualism Political Culture in the Arab Community Demography Summary
Chapter 6: Religion and Politics Religion and the Idea of a Jewish State Setting the Parameters of the Religion-State Relationship Growing Involvement in Politics Issues in Religion-State Relations after 2000 Religious Parties and Coalition Politics Summary
Chapter 7: The Politics of the Arab Minority What's in a Name? Changing Politics of the Community Jewish Attitudes toward the Arab Minority Arab Leaders and the Arab Public Voter turnout Sayed Kashua as Barometer? Summary PART III: THE POLITICAL PROCESS
Chapter 8: The Electoral System The Development of an Electoral System Election Laws Parties and Lists Electoral Reforms Summary Chapter 9: Political Parties and the Party System Party Clusters Leftist Parties Rightist Parties Religious Parties Arab Parties Center or "Third" Parties Ethnic or Special Issues Parties Party Organization Summary Chapter 10: Voting Patterns Four Main Issues Demographic Factors Voter Turnout Electoral Trends Summary Chapter 11: Interest Groups and Political Protest Changing Access in the Israeli Political System Interest Groups Political Protest Summary PART IV: INSTITUTIONS
Chapter 12: The Knesset Structure of the Knesset Legal Aspects Knesset Members Functions and Powers of the Knesset Relationship to the Government Summary Chapter 13: The Government The Government at the Center of the System Powers of the Government Forming a Government Maintaining and Running a Government Relations with the Knesset The President of the State Summary Chapter 14: The Judiciary and the Development of Constitutional Law The Judicial System Structure of the Court System The Religious Court System The Attorney General Basic Laws: A Constitution in the Making? Interpreting the Constitution Summary PART V: POLITICS AND POLICYMAKING
Chapter 15: Political Economy Ideas about Economic Development in the Yishuv A State(ist) Economy Likud and the Free Market Structural Weaknesses Summary Chapter 16: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Three Levels of Threat Perception Israel's Threat Environment Hawks and Doves in the Political System The Defense Establishment Public Opinion Summary PART VI: THE TRANSFORMATiON OF ISRAELI POLITICS
Chapter 17: The Changing Political Arena A More Complex Society An Economic Transformation Transformation of the Security Situation The Israeli-Palestinian Relationship Dampening of Ideology Political Culture and the Party System The Passing of a Heroic Generation A More Consequential Arab Sector The Transformation of the Judiciary Change versus Continuity Chapter 18: Confronting the Meaning of a Jewish State The Political Question: What is Jewish and Democratic? The Social Question: Who Belongs? The Academic Question: Whose Historiography? Conclusion Appendices Glossary Bibliography
Chapter 1: Israel in Historical and Comparative Perspective Studying Israel Israel in a Comparative Framework Major Themes of the Book A Note on Terminology PART I: HISTORICAL PROCESSES
Chronology of Key Events Chapter 2: Zionism and the Origins of Israel Jewish History before Zionism The Jewish Predicament in the 19th Century The Founding of the Zionist Movement Implications of Zionism Herzl's Path to Zionism Organizing the Zionist Movement Zionist Ideologies The Palestine Mandate Summary
Chapter 3: Yishuv Politics during the Mandate Period Constructing a Jewish Society Development of a Party System Conflict between Arabs and Jews in Mandatory Palestine Deteriorating Zionist-British Relations The End of the Mandate The Mandate Period in Perspective Summary
Chapter 4: State Building After 1948 Mamlachtiut The Political Arena Defense Education Economy Personal Status Issues Other State-Building Efforts Summary PART II: ISRAELI SOCIETY
Chapter 5: Political Culture and Demography The Pre-State Period Foundational Values of the State Changes since 1967 From Collectivism to Individualism Political Culture in the Arab Community Demography Summary
Chapter 6: Religion and Politics Religion and the Idea of a Jewish State Setting the Parameters of the Religion-State Relationship Growing Involvement in Politics Issues in Religion-State Relations after 2000 Religious Parties and Coalition Politics Summary
Chapter 7: The Politics of the Arab Minority What's in a Name? Changing Politics of the Community Jewish Attitudes toward the Arab Minority Arab Leaders and the Arab Public Voter turnout Sayed Kashua as Barometer? Summary PART III: THE POLITICAL PROCESS
Chapter 8: The Electoral System The Development of an Electoral System Election Laws Parties and Lists Electoral Reforms Summary Chapter 9: Political Parties and the Party System Party Clusters Leftist Parties Rightist Parties Religious Parties Arab Parties Center or "Third" Parties Ethnic or Special Issues Parties Party Organization Summary Chapter 10: Voting Patterns Four Main Issues Demographic Factors Voter Turnout Electoral Trends Summary Chapter 11: Interest Groups and Political Protest Changing Access in the Israeli Political System Interest Groups Political Protest Summary PART IV: INSTITUTIONS
Chapter 12: The Knesset Structure of the Knesset Legal Aspects Knesset Members Functions and Powers of the Knesset Relationship to the Government Summary Chapter 13: The Government The Government at the Center of the System Powers of the Government Forming a Government Maintaining and Running a Government Relations with the Knesset The President of the State Summary Chapter 14: The Judiciary and the Development of Constitutional Law The Judicial System Structure of the Court System The Religious Court System The Attorney General Basic Laws: A Constitution in the Making? Interpreting the Constitution Summary PART V: POLITICS AND POLICYMAKING
Chapter 15: Political Economy Ideas about Economic Development in the Yishuv A State(ist) Economy Likud and the Free Market Structural Weaknesses Summary Chapter 16: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Three Levels of Threat Perception Israel's Threat Environment Hawks and Doves in the Political System The Defense Establishment Public Opinion Summary PART VI: THE TRANSFORMATiON OF ISRAELI POLITICS
Chapter 17: The Changing Political Arena A More Complex Society An Economic Transformation Transformation of the Security Situation The Israeli-Palestinian Relationship Dampening of Ideology Political Culture and the Party System The Passing of a Heroic Generation A More Consequential Arab Sector The Transformation of the Judiciary Change versus Continuity Chapter 18: Confronting the Meaning of a Jewish State The Political Question: What is Jewish and Democratic? The Social Question: Who Belongs? The Academic Question: Whose Historiography? Conclusion Appendices Glossary Bibliography