Synopsis

Apparently defining the "Second Republic" of Israel as the period from the Six-Day War of 1967 and extending through to the present day, Arian (political science, Graduate Center of the City U. of New York) provides an introduction to the political system of this period. He follows a relatively standard format for the topic, providing chapters on the demographics of Israel, the general political economy, the political elite, the parties, party organization, the electoral system and electoral behavior, government structure and activities, interest groups and public policy, and aspects of the political culture. For this new edition of his textbook he provides new and expanded coverage of such topics as immigration from the former Soviet Union, the direct election of the prime minister (now abandoned), the expansion of judicial review, the weakening of political parties, the decentralization of the economy, and the political impact of the second intifada. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR