Democracy and Conflict Resolution: The Dilemmas of Israel's Peacemaking

by Miriam Fendius Elman, Hendrik Spruyt (Editor), Oded Haklai (Editor)

Studies of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict typically focus on how international conditions drive the likelihood of conflict resolution. By contrast, Democracy and Conflict Resolution considers the understudied impact of domestic factors. Using the contested theory of "democratic peace" as a foundational framework, the contributors explore the effects of various internal influences on Israeli government practices related to electoral systems, political parties, identity, leadership, and social movements. Most strikingly, Democracy and Conflict Resolution explores the possibility that features of democracy inhibit resolution of conflict, a possibility that resonates far outside the contested region. In reflecting on how domestic political configurations matter in a practical sense, this book offers policy-relevant and timely suggestions for advancing Israel’s capacity to pursue effective peacemaking policies.

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2013

Reviews

[Dubi Kanengisser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting exercise, drawing attention to the crucial role of identity and ideas in the functioning of institutions. A shame about the many unnecessary factual errors throughout the book, but mostly they are not important to the thesis presented.