Description
Apparently defining the "Second Republic" of Israel as the period from the Six-Day War of 1967 and extending through to the present day, Arian (political science, Graduate Center of the City U. of New York) provides an introduction to the political system of this period. He follows a relatively standard format for the topic, providing chapters on the demographics of Israel, the general political economy, the political elite, the parties, party organization, the electoral system and electoral behavior, government structure and activities, interest groups and public policy, and aspects of the political culture. For this new edition of his textbook he provides new and expanded coverage of such topics as immigration from the former Soviet Union, the direct election of the prime minister (now abandoned), the expansion of judicial review, the weakening of political parties, the decentralization of the economy, and the political impact of the second intifada. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Politics in Israel is an incisive guide to Israel’s rich past, unpredictable present, and promising but undoubtedly turbulent future. In his new second edition, Asher Arian again takes a comprehensive look at the country’s history, demography, economy, and sociology—and provides cogent 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 behavior, 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. New and expanded coverage in the second edition features: the impact of immigration from the former Soviet Unionthe adoption and cancellation of the direct election of the prime ministerthe constitutional revolution occasioned by the expansion of judicial reviewthe weakening of political partiesthe decentralization of the economy and emergence of a stronger capitalist ethicthe political impact of the second intifadaand the dominance of Ariel Sharon
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