Overview

Combining political theory and sociological interviews spanning four countries, Israel, the USA, Canada and the UK, Ilan Zvi Baron explores the Jewish Diaspora/Israel relationship and suggests that instead of looking at Diaspora Jews' relationship with Israel as a matter of loyalty, it is one of obligation. Baron develops an outline for a theory of transnational political obligation and, in the process, provides an alternative way to understand and explore the Diaspora/Israel relationship than one mired in partisan debates about whether or not being a good Jew means supporting Israel. He concludes by arguing that critique of Israel is not just about Israeli policy, but about what it means to be a Diaspora Jew.

Full Product Details

9781399536967

Table of Contents

Reviews

"At once a thought-provoking account of transnational political obligation and a sure-footed consideration of the fraught terrain on which Jewish-Israeli relations unfold. Not all will find Baron's notion of obligation persuasive; yet the book opens fresh ground for academics seeking to balance normatively-inflected political analysis against critical self-reflection, and - it is to be hoped - among Jews and Israelis seeking to reflect upon, and make sense of, their own affiliations and ambivalences. --Daniel J. Levine, Department of Political Science, The University of Alabama In an era of narrowing scientification this book is a marvel. Analysing the relations of Jewish Diasporas with Israel, Dr Baron courageously adopts a multidisciplinary perspective. He skilfully combines political theory, sociology and international relations theory to illuminate contemporary empirical and theoretical concerns like identity, power, transnationalism, obligation and critique. --Piki Ish-Shalom, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem The book presents an impressive multidisciplinary approach which includes, among others, a critical reading of the philosophical literature on political obligation, an analysis of Arendt and Foucault on power and identity, an engagement with the burgeoning transnationalism literature in international relations (IR) and ethnographic interviews with Jews in North America, Europe and Israel. --Lior Erez, University of Cambridge ""Political Studies Review"""

Author Information

Ilan Zvi Baron is Lecturer in the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available