2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
PIED3405 Israel: Politics and Society
20 creditsClass Size: 30
Module manager: Dr Alan Craig
Email: A.Craig@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
Why should I take this Module?The impact of Israel on regional and international politics is out of all proportion to its geographicalsize, demographic base and natural resources. How Israelis perceive themselves, how they relate to each other and how they project an image to the wider world are all key issue in understanding the Jewish State. This module tackles these issues, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of this complex yet fascinating country. Brief Reading ListClive Jones and Emma C. Murphy, Israel: the Challenge of identity, democracy and the state.Guy Ben Porat et al, Israel since 1980Objectives
On completion of this module, students will be able to:- demonstrate an understanding of Zionist historiography and its manifestations in contemporary Israeli society;
- analyse critically the conceptual and empirical debates surrounding Zionism, the structures of the Jewish state and the relationship between democracy, religion, ethnicity and nationalism;
- report on a particular theme of Israeli politics and society in detail;
- locate the contemporary debates surrounding Israeli politics and society within a regional and international context.
Syllabus
The module will cover the following topics:
1. Introduction - Zionism
2. Political structures and ideologies
3. Ethnicity in the State of Israel
4. The Military and the State
5. Religious identity in the Jewish State
6. A conflict of Identity - Israeli Arabs
7. Political Economy of the State of Israel
8. The legacy of the Holocaust
9. Israel's Foreign Policy
10. Conclusions
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
| Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
Students will be required to prepare for discussions in seminars through extensive reading of sources listed on the module reading list. In addition to this, students should spend time preparing for their assessments which should include finding and using sources not listed on their reading list.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 1 x 1500 words (Midterm) | 20.00 |
| Essay | 1 x 3000 words (End of term) | 80.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/04/2017
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