Fall/Winter Timetable

POL381H1F L0101

Topics in Political Theory

Zionism: Between Secular Ideology and Religious Redemption

Themes

The course will examine different perspectives on the relationships between Zionism - the Jewish national movement - and the Jewish religion. It will discuss a range of views, from those who perceive Zionism to be a secular movement that defied tradition and religion, to those who perceive Zionism in religious and Messianic terms. During the first half of the course, we will discuss the evolution of the subject from the origins of the Zionist movement to the establishment of the state of Israel and the Six Days War. In the second half of the course, we will discuss current views about the subject and its implications for contemporary Israeli society and the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

One two-hour lecture per week. One short paper, (maximum 1250 words, 20%), one research paper, (maximum 2500 words, 40%), and a final exam (40%).

Prerequisites

POL200Y1 or POL200Y5 or (POLC70H3 and POLC71H3)