Militarism and Israeli Society

by Gabriel Sheffer (Editor), Oren Barak (Editor)

Overview

Challenging the established view that the civilian sector in Israel has been predominant over its security sector since the state's independence in 1948, this volume critically and systematically reexamines the relationship between these sectors and provides a deeper, more nuanced view of their interactions. Individual chapters cast light on the formal and informal arrangements, connections, and dynamic relations that closely tie Israel's security sector to the country's culture, civil society, political system, economy, educational system, gender relations, and the media. Among the issues and events discussed are Israel's separation barrier, the impact of Israel's military confrontations with the Palestinians and other Middle Eastern states—especially Lebanon—and the impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Israeli case offers insights about the role of the military and security in democratic nations in contemporary times.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253221742
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	03/12/2010
Series:	Israel Studies Book Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Gabriel Sheffer is a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, Tel Aviv University. He is author of Moshe Sharett: Biography of a Political Moderate and Diaspora Politics: At Home Abroad.

Oren Barak is a senior lecturer in political science and international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is author of The Lebanese Army: A National Institution in a Divided Society.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction Gabriel Sheffer Oren Barak 1

1 The Study of Civil-Military Relations in Israel: A New Perspective Oren Barak Gabriel Sheffer 14

2 Military Knowledge and Weak Civilian Control in the Reality of Low Intensity Conflict—The Israeli Case Kobi Michael 42

3 Civil Society, the Military, and National Security: The Case of Israel's Security Zone in South Lebanon Avraham Sela 67

4 Intractable Conflict and the Media Yoram Peri 95

5 Tensions between Military Service and Jewish Orthodoxy in Israel: Implications Imagined and Real Stuart A. Cohen 120

6 From "Obligatory Militarism" to "Contractual Militarism"— Competing Models of Citizenship Yagil Levy Edna Lomsky-Feder Noa Harel 145

7 Shadow Lands: The Use of Land Resources for Security Needs in Israel Amiram Oren 168

8 "The Battle over Our Homes": Reconstructing/Deconstructing Sovereign Practices around Israel's Separation Barrier on the West Bank Yuval Feinstein Uri Ben-Eliezer 191

9 The Debate over the Defense Budget in Israel Zalman F. Shiffer 213

10 Civilian Control over the Army in Israel and France Samy Cohen 238

11 The Making of Israel's Political—Security Culture Amir Bar-Or 259

12 The Discourses of "Psychology" and the "Normalization" of War in Contemporary Israel Edna Lomsky-Feder Eyal Ben-Ari 280

13 Visual Representations of IDF Women Soldiers and "Civil-Militarism" in Israel Chava Brownfield-Stein 304

14 Contradictory Representation of the IDF in Cultural Texts of the 1980s Yuval Benziman 329

15 Military and Society since 9/11: Retrospect and Prospect Christopher Dandeker 346

Appendix A Israeli Ministers of Defense since I948 359

Appendix B Chiefs of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces Since 1948 361

Appendix C Important Dates 363

Contributors 369

Index 371

What People are Saying About This

Universityof Washington - Joel Migdal

An excellent compendium of the best authors writing on the military, as well as a broad range of civil-military issues. . . . A useful and timely book, especially for specialists on military issues.

Editorial Reviews

"On the whole, this book provides a comprehensive and fresh assessment of critical perspectives of the militaristic culture present in Israel that is appropriate for the student and informed scholar alike."—British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies

"Militarism and Israeli Society makes a convincing case about the security network and the power it exercises in and on Israeli society."—Journal of Palestine Studies

"An excellent compendium of the best authors writing on the military, as well as a broad range of civil-military issues. . . . A useful and timely book, especially for specialists on military issues."—Joel Migdal, University of Washington

From the Publisher

On the whole, this book provides a comprehensive and fresh assessment of critical perspectives of the militaristic culture present in Israel that is appropriate for the student and informed scholar alike.

British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies

Militarism and Israeli Society makes a convincing case about the security network and the power it exercises in and on Israeli society.

Journal of Palestine Studies

"An excellent compendium of the best authors writing on the military, as well as a broad range of civil-military issues.... A useful and timely book, especially for specialists on military issues." —Joel Migdal, University of Washington

Joel Migdal