GV525-6-SP-CO:
Introduction to Israeli Politics
2021/22
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 17 January 2022
Friday 25 March 2022
15
06 April 2021
Requisites for this module
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This module provides a range of theoretical angles and empirical evidence to understand the Politics of Israel. The module focuses on individual motivations as well as political and economic influences on electoral participation and vote choice in Israel.
This module offers an introduction to the domestic politics of Israel in a comparative perspective, including issues of internal cultural diversity, religion and politics, fragmentation of the political party system, and coalition governance.
The goal of this module is to introduce students to the political institutions, parties, and voting behaviour in Israel. Students will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the state of Israel as a democratic country, understand the Israeli political structure, and discuss the electoral arena. The focus of this course will be on four political markets; The Jewish-Secular (roughly 50% of the population), the Jewish-Religious (roughly 15% of the population), the Ultra-Orthodox (roughly 15% of the population), and the Non-Jewish (roughly 20% of the population). In addition, the module will cover three main cleavages that affect Israel’s politics; Liberal-Conservative (both economically and culturally), East-West (Ashkenazi-Mizrahi), and Gender (both men-women and straight-LGBTQIA).
In the first part of the module we will discuss the political institutions of Israel – The legislature (the Knesset), the government, political parties and their organizations. Other political institutions are important to decision-making and public policy, they will be discussed throughout the module. In the second part of the module we will discuss political outcomes of the institutional structure. Specifically, the module will review how Israeli parties and voters have changed since the 1950s, from a hegemonic pseudo-social-democratic party system to mostly economic liberal and culturally conservative party system.
It is important to note that this is not a module on the Israeli–Arab conflict, nor is it a module on the history of Israel. While the module is not focused on the Israeli–Arab conflict or on Palestinian politics, understanding of the domestic Israeli political process is essential for understanding the wider conflict and possible solutions to it.
1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Israeli political system and political behaviour in Israel.
2. Learn to evaluate and analyse a variety of issues related to political parties, electoral rules, voting behaviour, and public policy in Israel.
3. Acquire the tools to compare and contrast the politics of Israel in a comparative perspective.
Key Skills
By following this module, students will gain the following skills:
1. Read and analyse the appropriate materials that contain required information and data to answer questions about political issues in Israel and other countries.
2. Explore, organize, and analyse publicly available information, and distinguish between academic and journalistic information.
3. Write analytical memorandums about political issues.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered with a two-hour weekly seminar that will be live streamed to students off-campus. Attendance or watching the recorded lectures, reading the assigned materials, and participation in the class/online discussion are required and essential for satisfactory progress.
There will be a Moodle site assigned to this module, and all relevant materials – lecture notes, class exercises, (link to) readings – will be placed there.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Online test |
|
35% |
| Coursework |
Research essay |
|
65% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Mohammed Rodwan Abouharb
University College London
Available via Moodle
Of 634 hours, 20 (3.2%) hours available to students:
614 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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