The rise of Israel : a history of a revolutionary state / Jonathan Adelman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Adelman, Jonathan R.

Series:

Cass series--Israeli history, politics, and society ; 50.

Cass series--Israeli history, politics, and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations.

History.

Israel--History.

Israel.

Israel--Foreign relations--History--20th century.

Zionism--History.

Zionism.

Physical Description:

x, 269 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2008.

Summary:

Superbly researched and passionately argued, The Rise of Israel fills a glaring gap in the study of Zionism and the Jewish State. Taking on the academic establishment view of Israel as the embodiment of militarism and Western imperialism, Jonathan Adelman has revealed Israel's achievements - often in the face of incalculable adversity - in the fields of science, technology, democracy, and the arts. The Rise of Israel is an essential book for any student of Israel and the modern Middle East. Michael Oren, Professor, Georgetown University, and author of Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present.

The state of Israel is one of the most controversial countries in the world. Yet its unique creation and rise to power in 1948 have not been adequately explained either by its friends (mainstream Zionists) or by its detractors (Arabists and post-Zionists).

Using a variety of comparative methodologies, from contrasting the Jewish state to other minorities in the Ottoman Turkish Empire, to the rise of the four Tigers in Asia, to newly independent countries and revolutionary socialist countries in Europe and Asia, Jonathan Adelman examines how Israel has gained the strength to overcome great obstacles and become a serious regional power in the Middle East by 2007.

Themes addressed include: How the creation of Israel is strikingly different from that of most new states. How voluntarist forces, those of individual choice, will and strategy, played a major role in its creation and success. In-depth analysis of the creation of a revolutionary party, government, army and secret police as critical to the success of the socialist revolution (1881-1977). The enormous size of the forces aligned against the state, including major international reluctance to helping Israel in crisis, internal Israeli and Jewish issues. The tremendous impact of revolutionary (socialist and semi-capitalist nationalist) factors in giving Israel the strength to survive and become a significant regional power over time.

Jonathan Adelman provides a fresh perspective on one of the most controversial states in the world and avoids the highly charged ideological descriptions that often plague such discussions. Understanding the rise of Israel, a key state in the region, helps to explain a great deal about the Middle East today.

Contents:

Controversy over Israel

The rise of Israel in comparative perspective

Jewish issues

Hostility of the major powers

Enmity of the Arab world and Iran

Major international and religious organizations

Western unwillingness to helping Israel in crisis

Israeli issues

Historical roots of the revolutions

Two modern Zionist revolutions

Revolutionary military-security factors

Revolutionary factors: aliyah, education, government and party

International factors.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [243]-256) and index.

ISBN:

9780415775090

0415775094

9780415775106

0415775108

9780203928295

0203928296

0203929896

9780203929896

OCLC:

166361321