Zionism: Ideas and Realities

In this course, we study the emergence of Zionism as a Jewish national movement in the 19th century, and follow its proponents and critics into the present debate on the nature of the modern State of Israel. Topics will include: Zionism as a secular rebellion against tradition; Zionism as a messianic movement; the vision of a "bi-national state"; the Palestinian critique of Zionism; "Postzionism" and the controversy over the "New Historians." Materials include readings from the major voices in the history of Zionism and their critics, as well as modern scholarship, and Israeli and Palestinian literature. 3 hrs. sem.