Product Information
All citizens in a democracy are promised the same guaranteed rights, but should they have the same obligations? Should minorities with different attitudes toward the state be obliged to do national service in the name of equality? And what are the social and political consequences for minorities not given the opportunity to serve? This groundbreaking study examines civic (non-military) national service in Israel from independence until today, focusing on the controversies that ensued as the ethos of Israeli citizenship evolved from republican to liberal. Civic national service for religious girls was instituted in 1971 on a voluntary basis while remaining closed to others. After 2000, the program gradually extended to youth unsuitable for military service, Haredim (ultra-Orthodox), and Arabs. Etta Bick reveals the politics surrounding civic service policy using government documents and reports, newspaper accounts, and interviews. Civic national service remains a subject of contention both in the Arab community and among the Haredim, where some choose to serve despite the opposition of their leaders. Bick concludes that minority participation in civic national service is a positive and critical step toward their greater inclusion and integration into Israeli society. If Israeli policymakers adopt a more communitarian approach to citizenship and to civic national service, it will contribute to building stronger communities and empowering youth, benefitting all.Product Identifiers
PublisherSTATE University of New York Press
ISBN-139781438480954
eBay Product ID (ePID)17046623729
Product Key Features
Number of Pages236 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication NameCitizenship and Service: the Politics of Civic National Service in Israel
Publication Year2020
TypeTextbook
AuthorEtta Bick
Subject AreaCitizenship, Political Science
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height229 mm
Item Weight227 g
Additional Product Features
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited States
Title_AuthorEtta Bick