Towards a conceptual framework of world Jewish politics: state, nation and diaspora in a Jewish foreign policy

Abstract

Contemporary world Jewry is organized into a number of contrasting frameworks, which together present a challenge to contemporary political science. Since 1948 one could speak of a Jewish ttate, a Jewish nation, a Jewish diaspora, a Jewish people, Jewish communities, and both Jewish national and international or transnational organizations, all existing concurrently. The purpose of this essay is to articulate a conceptual framework that would encompass these structures. Its departure point is that limiting the analysis to the Jewish dimension of Israeli foreign policy would not be accurate. A combination of international Jewish and Israeli politics and foreign policy seems to be the right way to pursue the building of an appropriate conceptual framework of world Jewish politics. The theoretical framework presented here draws from many fields of study. Starting with comparative diaspora studies, Jewish political studies, comparative politics, and international politics, this essay demarcates what constitutes both the core and scope of world Jewish politics. At the core it posits both the Jewish state and the Jewish diaspora, defining their interests in terms of survival and identity. The scope of world Jewish politics encompasses unique interests and power, a distinct structure of interdependence, and a normative value system.