In the very long history of the Jewish people, it is imperative to understand the values and features
that inform the politics of the state of Israel. The course traces events and forces of the past that remain significant today. Past and present must be seen together. Also, the origins of Zionism, the return to the land of Israel, the birth and growth of the state in its diverse factors, politics and foreign policy in the various phases, possible future scenarios.
Testbook: Anita SHAPIRA, Israel a History, Orion 2015
Consultarion: Atlante storico del popolo ebraico, Zanichelli 1995
Learning Objectives
Zionism and the state are not events in itself but the development of prevailing lines of action that do not eliminate others, still in action. Students are invited to look beyond the simple chain of cause and effect events and to try and discern underlying past dynamics. In order to differentiate between normal politics, and its changes, and the structural dynamics, more permanent. This can be done mainly re Zionism and domestic politics, as in foreign policy there are external factors that can be compelling. Demography is an important tool to discern changes, past, present and in the foreseeable future, both in Israel and in the diaspora, as well in factions and groups active within those contexts
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of contemporary and international history, and of history of the Middle East
Teaching Methods
lectures with maps, documents etc. Review lectures, questions, comments
Further information
words (meanings, definitions) require extra attention
Type of Assessment
Oral examination, with two topics
Course program
Origins of (ancient) Israel, terminology, kingdoms, destructions of Jerusalem, exile, Middle Ages, persecutions. Branches of diaspora: ashkenazi, sephardi, mizrahim.
Illuminism, Zionism, yishuv. Balfour Declaration, British mandate, idea of partition, war 1939-45 and effects on Zionism. UN partition 1947, birth of Israel 1948. Building the state, politics and foreign policy, immigration, wars, Begin and the Right. Peace treaties and intifadas, changes in policy, demography, relations with diaspora. Palestinians, from PLO to Hamas. Occupation, possible scenarios