Politics In Israel: The Second Republic, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Asher Arian (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568029322 | ISBN-13: 978-1568029320 | Publication Date: October 8, 2004 | Edition: 2nd

An incisive guide to Israel's rich past, unpredictable present, and promising but undoubtedly turbulent futureln this new second edition, Asher Arian again takes a comprehensive look at the country's history, demography, economy, and sociology, and provides clear analysis of its ever-changing role in the Middle East. Informed by the latest opinion polls, survey data, and election results, Arian clarifies the major issues facing Israeli culture and politics, and explains the complexities of Israel's political institutions, political behaviour, and public policies. He chronicles the significant events in this dynamic nation's relatively brief experience of self-governance and introduces readers to the exceptional personalities who have defined its domestic landscape. *The first edition was published by Chatham House with the title, The Second Republic: Politics in Israel. New and expanded coverage in the second edition includes the:* impact of immigration from the former Soviet Union* adoption and cancellation of the direct election of the prime minister* constitutional revolution occasioned by the expansion of judicial review* weakening of political parties* decentralization of the economy and emergence of a stronger capitalist ethic* political impact of the second intifada* the dominance of Ariel Sharon

Product Details

• Paperback: 447 pages
• Publisher: CQ Press; 2nd edition (October 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568029322
• ISBN-13: 978-1568029320
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > History > Middle East > Israel

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Israeli politics are best considered as "being of the closet and not of the caucus...", January 17, 2006

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This review is from: Politics In Israel: The Second Republic, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Suzanne Gershowitz from the American Enterprise Institute has said: Many academics focus upon Israel only in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Arian, a political science professor at Haifa University, goes far beyond, describing in-depth the functioning of the Israeli political system with emphasis, in this second edition of Politics in Israel, on the five years since Israel's repeal of direct prime ministerial elections.

Arian is not clear about the parameters of the "second republic," but it appears to refer to the period following the 1967 war when a national unity government allowed former Irgun leader Menachim Begin to re-enter mainstream Israeli politics, an event which would help break Labor's monopoly. The background he provides on Israeli political machinations makes Politics in Israel essential reading.

Politics in Israel offers an exhaustive picture of Israeli society, providing statistical analyses of the country's economy and population, tracing the evolution of its political parties, and discussing the relationship between Judaism and Israeli politics. Further, Arian has structured his study for ease of use. Rather than chronicle Israel politics from their start, he divided Politics in Israel into chapters on the political elite, political parties, electoral behavior, public policy, administration, and local government. Statistical tables detail everything from basic election results, to previous professions of the Knesset (parliament) members, to public perceptions of each party's commitment to major issues.

Rather than obfuscate with detail, Arian reveals the idiosyncrasies of the Israeli political system often unnoticed by journalists and ordinary citizens, such as how party politics functions in a system of government built around multiparty coalitions. He uses comparison with the U.S. Congress to explain different perceptions of lobbying and the unique role of Israel's military in its political society. He shows how the Knesset often operates with little transparency, suggesting that Israeli politics are best considered as "being of the closet and not of the caucus."