Introduction
Maya Hadar
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WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
The impact of Israel on regional and international politics is
disproportional to its geographical size and demographic base
=> relevant topic
Interdisciplinary and comprehensive course => history,
politics, international relations
Extensive introduction to Israeli history and nation building
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
Multilevel discussions => social groups, ethnic groups, the
nation
Multiple perspectives: political, social and cultural (focusing on
politics & society)
Examine the dominant issues and challenges Israeli society and politics
are currently facing
AT THE END OF THE COURSE, STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO:
Describe and
understand
important
processes, moments
and issues in Israeli
history & understand
their effect on
ongoing
processes/events
Demonstrate
an understanding of
Zionist
historiography & its
manifestations in
contemporary
Israeli society
Critically Analyze
the relationship
between democracy,
religion, ethnicity &
nationalism in Israel
AT THE END OF THE COURSE, STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO:
Discuss
the challenges
Israel is facing from
various points of
view: political,
social, international
relations, the
conflict, etc.
Understand
the complexity of
Israeli politics &
multi-ethnic society,
and identify current
trends
Situate
Relevant Israeli
political & social
debates within a
regional and
international
context
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED
The components of the Israeli society (Arabs, Druze, Bedouins, Oriental and Ashkenazi
Jews, Jews from Ethiopia, former soviet immigrants, further non-Jews) and intergroups'
relations
The Israeli Defense force as a melting pot & its role in nation-building in Israel
National identity as a product of subcultures, Zionism and post-Zionism
The relationship between Religion & state: political and social implications
The Arab/Israeli and Israeli/Palestinian conflicts (and the way they influence
Israeli politics and society)
STRUCTURE
Historical and political background
against which contemporary Israeli
politics plays out
Contemporary Israeli challengespolitical
level: political cleavages,
inclusion/exclusion of minorities,
extremism
Contemporary Israeli challenges- social
level: religion & modernity, ethnic
cleavages, inequality, rising cost of living
LECTURES
Part I: Ideological, Historical and Political background
Feb 21 1. General Introduction and Course Overview
Feb 28 2. Introduction to Israel
March 7 3. The Zionist ideology and movement Reading week
March 14 4. From Mandate to Statehood
Midterm essay topics lock
in deadline
March 21 5. Nation-building 1948-1967
March 28 6. ‘Between the wars’ 1967-2000
LECTURES
Part II: Contemporary Israeli politics
April 4 7. Israeli Democracy and Politics
April 11 8. Foreign Policy and International Relations
Midterm
essays’
submission
LECTURES
Part III: Contemporary Israeli Society
April 18 9. Immigration and Minority Politics
End-term papers’ topic lock in
deadline
April 25 10. Arab/Palestinian Israelis
May 2 11. Religion in Israel
May 9 12. Israel as an Army Nation
May 16 13. Peace in The Middle East? Final session- feedback round
REQUIREMENTS
Mid term essay
Final paper (8-10 pages)
Pass/fail grade
Weekly Readings
A passing grade requires the successful
completion of BOTH papers
MID-TERM ESSAYS
• SHORT ESSAY (2,000 TO 2,500 WORDS)
• STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO NEWS CONCERNING ISRAELI
SOCIETY AND POLITICS DURING THE COURSE
• STUDENTS WILL BASE THEIR ESSAYS ON ONE NEWS ARTICLE/COMMENTARY
PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH DURING THE COURSE
• STUDENTS WILL WRITE A SHORT ANALYSIS, CRITIC OR RESPONSE TO THE
ARTICLE/COMMENTARY
MID-TERM ESSAYS
•SUGGESTED MEDIA OUTLETS ARE FOUND IN THE SYLLABUS
•STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO PURSUE OTHER SOURCES (ONLINE/OFFLINE)
•COMMENTARIES CHOSEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE MID-TERM ESSAY SHOULD
SPECIFICALLY RELATE TO ISRAELI POLITICS AND SOCIETY (NOT ISRAELI
ECONOMY, ART, WEATHER, START-UPS, SPORT, ETC.).
MID-TERM
ESSAYS
Essays will include:
Basic info
concerning the
media outlet
(ownership,
political
orientation…)
Introduction of
the topic and
further
relevant
information
Original input
THE ORIGINAL INPUT
•DO YOU AGREE WITH THE AUTHOR’S DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE/CONCLUSION?
•IS THE COMMENTARY MISLEADING/LACKING FURTHER IMPORTANT
INFORMATION?
•DOES THE CONCLUSION FOLLOW THE DESCRIBED FACTS?
•IS THE INFORMATION CREDIBLE?
MID-TERM
ESSAYS
Instructions for writing a good essay
will be uploaded to IS after topics’
lock-in
Critical responses and comparisons
with the Czech Republic/your home
country (if applicable) are welcome
FINAL PAPER
Research
paper
dedicated to
a specific
aspect of
the Israeli
society
You choose
the topic
(please
confirm with
lecturer)
Topic will be
further
discussed
in the final
session of
the course
10 pages max
(Times new Roman
size 12, double
space including
footnotes,
excluding
references)
Topics lock in (via
mail) is 18.04.19
Submission (via IS) on
03.06.19 (can submit
before)
FINAL PAPER
POSSIBLE TOPICS
• SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE IDF
• RELIGION AND STATE IN ISRAEL: MODERNITY VS. TRADITION
• A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN ISRAELI POLITICS/SPECIFIC SOCIAL ASPECTS
AND YOUR HOME COUNTRY/ANOTHER COUNTRY
• ISRAELI NATIONAL IDENTITY: COMPONENTS & MECHANISMS OF CONSTRUCTION
• ISRAEL AND ITS DIASPORAS (JEWS/ISRAELI)
• MINORITIES IN ISRAEL: POLITICAL REPRESENTATION, SOCIAL
INCLUSION/EXCLUSION, ETC.
GENERAL NOTES
• THIS COURSE (AND THE READINGS) IS OFFERED IN ENGLISH
• DON'T WORRY IF ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE! MINOR LINGUISTIC
ERRORS WILL NOT AFFECT THE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR WORK
• YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS AND ARGUMENTS
IN ENGLISH (ACADEMIC LEVEL)
• ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLASS IS PARTICULARLY VALUED
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
• MIDTERM ESSAY TOPICS’ LOCK IN (VIA EMAIL) => 14.03.2019
• MIDTERM ESSAYS’ SUBMISSION (VIA IS) => 11.04.2019
• END-TERM PAPERS’ TOPIC LOCK IN DEADLINE (VIA EMAIL) => 18.04.2019
• END-TERM PAPERS’ SUBMISSION (VIA IS) => 03.06.2019
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• WILL SUCH PRESENTATIONS BE UPLOADED TO IS? YES
• WHERE CAN I FIND THE ASSIGNED READINGS? IN IS
• IS READING MANDATORY? WELL…
• IS LECTURE ATTENDANCE MANDATORY? NO
• WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER SUPPORT? EMAIL ME 
AND NOW…
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