Militarism and Identity in Israel

Militarism and Identity in Israel is a scholarly attempt to explain what the author believes as an identity crises in Israel during the 1990's. That was by drawing a systematic relationship between militarism and national identity making during the Yeshuv period and after. The author has applied his hypotheses on two interrelated theoretical discourses; the first is the modernist's view of nationalism, as invented and imagined phenomenon. The second discourse is what ought to be known as" mass militarism" which is widely defined by the dominance of military values in a given society. Salahat's account is that, mass militarism can be a counterpart to professional militarism, where military values and ethics are confined inside barracks. Reflecting both of mass and professional paradigms of militarism on Zionist's nation - making experience, Salahat believes that mass militarism was critical during the formative years in Israel, while tendency toward professional militarism in Israel gradually after 1967, has let space for identity transformation. This was accompanied by the deterioration of traditional militaristic legacy.

Autorentext

Dr Nizam Salahat is a Palestinian Scholar Specialized in Civil - Military Relations and Security Sector Reform. Currently is a lecturer and Director of the Palestinian Center for Security Sector Studies at Al-Istiqlal University in Jericho.