The Global Political Economy of Israel [Paperback]

Jonathan Nitzan (Author), Shimshon Bichler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

Over the past century, Israel has been transformed from an agricultural colony, to a welfare-warfare state, to a globally integrated "market economy" characterised by great income disparities. What lies behind this transformation? In order to understand capitalist development, argue Bichler and Nitzan, we need to break the artificial separation between "economics" and "politics", and think of accumulation itself as "capitalisation of power". Applying this concept to Israel, they reveal the big picture that never makes it to the news. Diverse processes – such as regional conflicts and energy crises, ruling class formation and dominant ideology, militarism and dependency, inflation and recession, the politics of high-technology and the transnationalisation of ownership – are all woven into a single story. The result is a fascinating account of one of the world’s most volatile regions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This accessible but deeply disturbing book is not only the most authoritative study of the Israeli State to date, but also a significant contribution to state theory and globalisation ... A masterpiece.' --Ronen Palan, Professor of International Political Economy, University of Sussex.

 

'A ‘Must’ read for anyone interested in the debate about globalization and its discontents.' --Joseph H.H. Weiler, Jean Monnet Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

 

'Undoubtedly the most riveting and outstanding political-economy book you would have read this year.' --Globe

From the Back Cover

'Bichler and Nitzan are without doubt two of the more innovative political economists in the world right now ... This accessible but deeply disturbing book is not only the most authoritative study of the Isreali State to date, but also a significant contribution to state theory and globalisation. I would place it on a par with Poulantzas' work in the seventies. It is a masterpiece.' - Ronen Palan, Professor of International Political Economy, University of Sussex.

'Hard to review without superlatives ... I read it as a desert traveller who has finally reached an oasis.' - Haim Baram, Kol Ha'eer

'A must read for anyone interested in the debate about globalization and its discontents.' - Joseph H. H. Weiler, Jean Monnet Professor of Law, New York University

'I devoured it in a few days. It is a great, impressive and illuminating book, as well as a fascinating read.' - Aryeh Kofsky, Professor of Comparative Religion, Haifa University

'Undoubtedly the most riveting and outstanding political economy book you would have read this year.' - Globes

'Rarely does a single book transform the entire worldview of a reader. This book does it.' - Dror Burstein, Kol Ha'eer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 407 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745316751
• ISBN-13: 978-0745316758
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars believe the raves on the dustcover., May 31, 2004

By 

William (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Global Political Economy of Israel (Paperback)

This is one of the most informative books I have read in years. First, it is authored by professors of political economy who write with a minimum of academic jargon and make difficult concepts accessible to non-specialists. Second, by synthesizing data from diverse sources these experts clarify for the lay reader how finance and politics are manipulated by elites to seize and hold onto power and wealth. Third, it presents their original concepts of "breadth" investment and "depth" investment, two processes which explain alternating periods of "peace process" and war and which help the reader penetrate the fog and spin put out by elites and the media they control. Fourth, these populist professors make their points with a dry wit reminiscent of Veblen's skewering of the 'leisure class'. Finally, and with impressive specificity, they expose the tricks used by powerful Israelis to enrich themselves at the expense of Israeli taxpayers and to transform that once egalitarian society into a plutocracy.
This book has been met by dead silence from the wealthy crooks it exposes. Like Kissinger ducking war-criminal accusations by Hitchens, these usually combative and litigious billionaires hope to quietly bury this brilliant book. I predict it will not be reviewed by elite-dependent media and academic journals - and my advice is to buy your copy now, before all remaining stock is bought up and quietly pulped.