Israel State and Society
Israel is a country that draws a lot of public attention around the globe. Nevertheless, both those who support Israel and those who are critical of its geopolitical standing and policies, usually have a very limited knowledge about the Israeli society and its political system. This course presents Israel from multiple perspectives - political, social, economic and cultural - in an attempt to expose the learners to a cutting edge academic research on the country. Each of the 13 sessions is focused on one aspect of the Israeli society. Every session starts with a general introduction of the issue at hand, hosting one expert or more, who share their most recent studies and insights on that specific field. Every 15 minutes, or so, the students are asked to answer an informative quiz of comprised of a single question. Upon the completion of each class, an online chat will be opened. Students studying for credit are expected to participate in it, ask relevant questions and answer questions about the required readings for this class.
Students will graduate from this course with a better understanding of the Israeli society, better knowledge of the Israeli history, politics and economy, and better acquaintance with the varying groups of which the Israeli society is comprised.
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Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Introduction
Week 2
Zionism - The ideological roots of Israel’s state and society
Week 3
Building a nation, constructing a memory: on sacred time and space in the Israeli society
Week 4
Who are the Israelis – Demographic dynamics and their social consequences
Week 5
Israel’s political system
Week 6
Israel in the Middle East – War and peace
Week 7
Israel as a Jewish state - Can a state be both Jewish and democratic?
Week 8
Jewish-Arab relations in Israel – Conflicts and integration
Week 9
A society of immigrants – multiculturalism and social stratification
Week 10
A nation in uniforms – the social consequences of the unending conflict
Week 11
From state-building to neoliberalism: the role of the state in Israel’s economy
Week 12
Determinants of voting behavior in Israel
Week 13
Is there an Israeli identity?
Week 14
Jerusalem, the microcosms of Israeli society – History, politics and everyday life
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Reviews
Very informative, and engaging, videos. There are however no links to useable reading texts, which is a shame. But the content of the videos are of incredible value.
I really loved this course! THanks Coursera, thanks the HEbrew University of Jerusalem for this opportunity. I will keep on learning and hold this diploma as an award! Thanks again!! Diego da Rocha
Its fascinating and rich. I feel privilege to listen to and learn from these many great minds.
I came into the class already knowing a lot about Israel from both living in it and books. However, it was great seeing a college level discussion on the topic.
