The Many Tribes of Israel

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course will examine the contemporary issues facing Israeli society and the major debates that define Israeli politics. The discussion of Israel's political system will be divided into several distinct, yet analytically related parts: historical roots, social composition, the legal, judicial, and education systems, political system, political and religious ideologies, voting behavior, coalition politics, the government and public policy. Emphasis will be placed on the major political cleavages that often determine the nature of Israeli politics: Left/Right, Jewish/Arab, Israeli/Palestinian, religious/secular, wealthy/poor, civil/military, veterans/immigrants, and male/female. Throughout the course we will identify some of the ways in which Israeli society and politics are unique while also tracing how the characteristics within Israel fit broader patterns in political and social theory. A discussion on Israel's future will conclude the course. The course will include two main components: In-class instruction and guest speakers at the University of Notre Dame at Tantur campus Organized engagements in the field related to the course material (e.g. Israel's parliament, meetings with community leaders, understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course students should be able tod evelop an in depth understanding of the leading analytical and theoretical frameworks that make sense Israeli politics; Gain a better appreciation of the political challenges faced by Israeli citizens, politicians, and the government in a rapidly globalizing world; Become able to read, understand, and analyze articles of varying complexity on Israeli politics, and familiar with resources on Israeli politics and society; Develop an appreciation for the interconnectivity between trends in Israeli society and politics and that of the international community; Become able to articulate questions about Israel's future that balances both an understanding of leading analytical works as well as firsthand experiences