The Jewish State: A Century Later, Updated With a New PrefaceAs the fiftieth anniversary of Israeli statehood approaches, along with the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of the World Zionist Organization, the question of what is meant by a "Jewish" state is particularly timely. Alan Dowty takes on that question in a book that is admirable for its clarity and its comprehensive interpretation of the historical roots and contemporary functioning of Israel. Israeli nationhood, democracy, and politics did not unfold in a social or political vacuum, but developed from power-sharing practices in pre-state Jewish communities in Palestine and in Eastern Europe. Dowty elucidates the broad cluster of cultural, historical, and ideological tenets which came to comprise Israel's contemporary political system. He demonstrates that such tenets were not arbitrary but in fact developed logically from Jewish political habits and the circumstances of time. Dowty illustrates how these traditions are balanced with those of ideology and modernization, and he provides an integrated, sophisticated analysis of the Israeli nation's formation and present state. Dowty also proposes thoughtful answers to puzzles regarding the strengths and weaknesses of Israeli democracy in responding to the challenges of communal divisions, religious contention, the country's non-Jewish minority, and accommodation with the Palestinians. The Jewish State will be invaluable for anyone looking for that one book that gives an intelligent overview of both Israel today and of its origins. |
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Contents
Democracy in Israel | 3 |
Jewish Politics | 19 |
The Zionist Revolution | 34 |
Building a Civic State | 61 |
The Filter of Security | 85 |
The Erosion of Ideology | 103 |
The Communal Split | 143 |
Religion and Politics | 159 |
Arabs in Israel | 184 |
The Impact of the West Bank and Gaza | 216 |
Epilogue | 249 |
NOTES | 257 |
| 305 | |
| 333 | |
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Common terms and phrases
accepted Arab areas authority basic became become central civil continued courts culture defense democracy democratic division dominant early Eastern economic elections emergency equality established ethnic European example existing fact forces Gaza groups haredi Hebrew Human idea identity ideology immigration important increased institutions integration International Israel Israeli Arabs Israeli Democracy issues Jerusalem Jewish Jewish politics Jews Knesset Labor Land leaders least less liberal Likud limited majority matters measures ment Middle military minister minority move movement noted observers occupation organized Palestine Palestinian particular parties patterns peace percent period political population position practice principle question regard regulations relations religion religious remained represented role rule secular sense settlement social society status strong Studies survey territories threat tion traditional University Press vote West Bank Western Zionist
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The Jewish State: A Century Later, Updated With a New Preface |
| Author | Alan Dowty |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 1998 |
| ISBN | 0520927060, 9780520927063 |
| Length | 371 pages |
| Subjects | › › Religion / Judaism / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |