Angol
Judaism is fundamental to Israel s self-conception, but Israelis disagree about whether this is a religious, ethnic, or cultural claim. This book analyzes the implications of religious nationalist sentiment for public support in domains like democracy, war, and social policy. A large segment of the Israeli population subscribes to the Jewish nationalist ideology. Jewish nationalists are more conservative, seek Jewish-homogeneous social groups, and pursue more aggressive foreign policies. In the face of a sizable secular and non-Jewish population, Jewish nationalism thus threatens democratization and stability in Israel.
Timely and authoritative, A Jewish State? offers a rare combination of theoretical sophistication and methodological depth. With clarity and rigor, Ridge fills a long-standing gap in scholarship, demonstrating how Jewish nationalism shapes Israel s identity, democracy, and global role. This book reframes urgent debates with precision and lasting significance.
--Andrew Ward, Tulane University
The book is timely given the ongoing war in Gaza and aggressions in the West Bank. Ridge s thorough analysis perceptively demonstrates how Jewish nationalism drives Israeli settlement and war policies.
--Peter O Brien, author of The Muslim Question in Europe: Political Controversies and Public Philosophies.
