HIST3110: Modern Israel

This course investigates the history and culture of Israeli society since the establishment of the state in 1948 until the present. We will pay close attention to the dynamism, swift growth, and heterogeneity of Israeli society in all its diversity and complexity. We will also consider Israel’s place in the global geopolitical landscape. The main ethnic/cultural divisions and ideological/political tensions in Israeli society will be examined – Jews and Arabs, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi Jews, religion and secularism, newcomers and veterans, right and left – as well as a variety of ongoing sociopolitical challenges including minority rights, civil rights, gender equality, environmentalism, and Jewish-Muslim-Christian relations. The course is divided into two sections. First, we will examine the social, cultural, and political landscape of Israel through an academic lens. In order to enrich and deepen the learning experience, we will study a variety of texts (analytic literature, primary sources, newspapers, and films). Second, we will explore the mindset of contemporary Israeli society by digging deeply into three notable works of fiction. At the conclusion of the semester, students will have the opportunity to participate in a 4-week study abroad seminar in Israel (see below). There are no prerequisites for this class and no prior knowledge of the subject matter is presumed.

• Spring 2019