Introduction Maya Hadar, PhD
•WELCOME
•WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
•ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED THIS SEMESTER
•COURSE’ STRUCTURE
•REQUIREMENTS
ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY
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•MOTIVATION FOR TAKING THIS COURSE
WELCOME!
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
The impact of Israel on regional + international politics is
disproportional to its geographical size and demographic base
Extensive introduction to Israeli history & nation building
Interdisciplinary, comprehensive course => History, politics,
international relations
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
Multilevel
Discussions =>
The nation +
disaggregated
society
(ethnic/religious
groups,
minority/majority
etc.)
Multiple
Perspectives:
political, social,
cultural,
historical
Examine
dominant issues
+ challenges the
Israeli society &
political system
is currently
facing
AT THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO:
Describe
Important moments,
processes & issues
in Israeli history
(political and social
aspects)
Understand
The effect of
Israeli
historiography on
contemporary
Israeli society &
politics
Critically
Analyze
The relationship
between
democracy, religion,
ethnicity &
nationalism in Israel
Discuss
the challenges
Israel is facing from
various points of
view
Understand
the complexity of
Israeli politics &
multi-ethnic society
+ identify current
trends
Situate
Israeli political &
social debates
within a regional
and international
context
AT THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO:
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED
The components of the Israeli society + intergroups' relations
The Israeli Defense force (IDF) => Its’ role in Israeli nation-building
National identity as a product of subcultures, Zionism & post-Zionism
(NON) separation of religion & state: Political and social implications
The Effect of the Arab/Israeli + Israeli/Palestinian conflicts on Israeli
politics and society
STRUCTURE
Historical & Political
Background
Contemporary Israeli
Challenges- political level
Contemporary Israeli
Challenges- social level
LECTURES
Part I: Ideological, Historical & Political Background
Feb 27 2. Introduction to Israel
March 5 3. From Mandate to Statehood
March 12 4. Nation-building 1948-1967
Midterm essay topics lockin
deadline
March 19 5. Between the wars’ 1967-2000
Part II: Contemporary Israeli politics
March 26 6. Israeli Democracy and Politics
April 2 Mid- term Essays submission deadline No session
April 9 7. Foreign Policy and International Relations
LECTURES
Part III: Contemporary Israeli Society
April 16 8. Immigration and Minority Politics
April 23 No session
End-term papers’ topic lock in
deadline
April 30 9. Arab/Palestinian Israelis
May 7 10. Religion in Israel
May 14 11. Peace in The Middle East? Conclusion + feedback round
LECTURES
REQUIREMENTS
Mid-term Essay
Final Paper
Pass/fail
Weekly Readings
Must submit (both) satisfactory
papers to pass
MID-TERM ESSAYS
• SHORT ESSAY (2,000- 2,500 WORDS)
• SUBMITTED IN COUPLES
• PAY ATTENTION TO NEWS CONCERNING ISRAELI SOCIETY & POLITICS DURING THE
SEMESTER
• CHOOSE A SUITABLE NEWS ITEM/COMMENTARY + BASE YOUR ESSAYS ON IT
• WRITE A SHORT ANALYSIS, CRITIC OR RESPONSE TO THE CHOSEN
ARTICLE/COMMENTARY
MID-TERM ESSAYS
• SUGGESTED MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE SYLLABUS
• YOU ARE WELCOME TO PURSUE OTHER SOURCES (ONLINE/OFFLINE)
• COMMENTARIES SHOULD SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS ISRAELI POLITICS OR
SOCIETY
MID-
TERM
ESSAYS
Essays will include:
Basic info
concerning
the media
outlet
(ownership,
political
orientation…)
Introduction
to the topic +
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/OTHER 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 very welcome
FINAL PAPER
Research
paper,
dedicated to a
specific
aspect of the
Israeli society
You choose
the topic
(confirm with
lecturer)
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
email) is 23.04
Submission
deadline (via IS) on
26.06
FINAL PAPER
POSSIBLE TOPICS
• SOCIAL/POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE IDF
• RELIGION & 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
• ENGLISH => DON'T WORRY IF ENGLISH ISN’T YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE! MINOR
LINGUISTIC ERRORS WILL NOT AFFECT THE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR WORK.
HOWEVER,
• YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS + ARGUMENTS IN
ENGLISH (ACADEMIC LEVEL)
• ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLASS IS PARTICULARLY VALUED
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
• MIDTERM ESSAY TOPICS’ LOCK IN (VIA EMAIL) => 12.03
• MIDTERM ESSAYS’ SUBMISSION (VIA IS) => 02.04
• END-TERM PAPERS’ TOPIC LOCK IN DEADLINE (VIA EMAIL) => 23.04
• END-TERM PAPERS’ SUBMISSION (VIA IS) => 26.06
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• WILL POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS BE UPLOADED TO IS? YES
• IS LECTURE ATTENDANCE MANDATORY? NO
• WHERE CAN I FIND THE ASSIGNED READINGS? IN THE IS
• IS READING MANDATORY? WELL…
• WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER SUPPORT? EMAIL ME 
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FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW
ABOUT ISRAEL …