Israeli Politics Study Guide 002 Power Spring 2015

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Department of Political Science 112- Israeli Politics; Klauber (Spring 2015) Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Power in Israeli Politics Power in Israeli Politics Power in Israeli Politics Power in Israeli Politics ---- Study GuideStudy GuideStudy GuideStudy Guide # 02# 02# 02# 02 Subject: Power in Israeli Politics Who Governs Israel? Michael Barnett & Raymond Duvall (2005); Sharkansky (2003) Case Studies: Sharkansky (2003): (1) Casino in Israel; (2) Agriculture and Water Allotments

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Name of TheoryName of TheoryName of TheoryName of Theory SubSubSubSub----theoriestheoriestheoriestheories ScholarsScholarsScholarsScholars;;;; Scholars of Scholars of Scholars of Scholars of Israeli PoliticsIsraeli PoliticsIsraeli PoliticsIsraeli Politics

DenotationDenotationDenotationDenotation ObservableObservableObservableObservable

DefinitionDefinitionDefinitionDefinition

1. Compulsory Power: Direct Control Over Another (Behaviorism)

Weberian definition as a

working assumption for ALL Compulsory Power Theories

(CPT)

M. Weber (1947)

A A A A BBBB Yes Probability that one actor within a social relationship will be in a position to carry out his own will despite resistance, regardless of the basis on which this probability exists. In simple words, A has more power than B if A can change Bs behavior against Bs will. (CPT)

(I) Reputationalism X1

F. Hunter (1953)

A A A A BBBB Yes (Surveys, Public opinion)

Subjectivity-based evaluations made by domestic and international actors, which produce statements in which each actor gives a presentation of his view referred to the powerful actors in the community, state, or international system. In simple words: Actor thinks that A has more power than B simply because he has a reputation of being a more powerful actor.

(II) Decisionalism

X2

R. Dahl (1957, 1961)

A A A A BBBB Yes, (decision-making process)

Dahl (1961) adopts Weberian concept of power, arguing that A impacts Bs actual behavior against his/her will. The power is visible and consequently observable. (CPT)

(III) Non-decisionalism

X3

Bachrach and Baratz (1962)

Sharkansky (2003)

Israeli Politics

AAAA / BBBB No (decision-making process)

Bachrach and Baratz (1962) argue, that power still exists even when it is not observable (Two faces of power: visible and invisible). In simple words: A has more power than B when A prevents B from doing something by formal and informal means. (CPT)

(IV) Radicalism

X4

S. Lukes (1974)

AAAA BBBB No (Marxist methods)

A dominates B by manipulating his/her cognition. In simple words: A has more power over B when A is able to shape Bs interests, and consequently B is doing what A needs him/her to do without A ever saying that. A shapes Bs interests and consequently his behavior. No observable behavior of A ordering B1. The conflict is latent. (CPT)

2. Structural Power: Direct and Mutual Constitution of the Capacities of Actors

Isaac (1987) Peled (2002)

A : BA : BA : BA : B No (Social

Relations)

Structural power works through direct structural relations between A and B (A:B); structural constitution, that is, the production and reproduction of internally related positions of super- and

1 Lukes: [It is] supreme and most insidious exercise of power to prevent people, to whatever degree, from having grievances shaping their perceptions, cognitions, and preferences in such a way that they accept their role in the existing order of things (Barnett and Duvall, page 53).

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Z1

subordination, or domination, that actors occupy (Barnett and Duvall 2005, page 55). Structuralism is a non-behavioral, non-decisionalist, and non-observable approach. In simple words: A simply has more power than B, because this is how the society is being structured.

3. Productive Power: Production of Subjects Through Diffuse Social Relations

W1

Barnett and Duvall (2005)

A A A A BBBB Yes/No (Discourse)

Productive power concerns discourse, the social processes and the systems of knowledge through which meaning is produced, fixed, lived, experienced, and transformed. Thus to attend to the analysis of productive power is to focus on how diffuse and contingent social processes produce particular kinds of subjects, fix meanings and categories, and create what is taken for granted and the ordinary of world politics (Barnett and Duvall, 2005, page 57).

Power in Israeli Politics: AppliPower in Israeli Politics: AppliPower in Israeli Politics: AppliPower in Israeli Politics: Applicationscationscationscations

TheoryTheoryTheoryTheory Basic AssumptionsBasic AssumptionsBasic AssumptionsBasic Assumptions CriticismsCriticismsCriticismsCriticisms Application to the Israeli CaseApplication to the Israeli CaseApplication to the Israeli CaseApplication to the Israeli Case----studiesstudiesstudiesstudies

Reputationalism Hunter 1953

Behavior is visible; People can

estimate where the Power is found;

Repetitive practices produce reputations

Building theory based on reputation is wrong;

True behaviorist builds theory on empirical evidence rather than perceptions

The BulldozerThe BulldozerThe BulldozerThe Bulldozer The Guardian, Wednesday 7 November 2001 "Former Israel's belligerent prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has been supervising the biggest occupation of Palestinian territory since the start of the Intifadah, entertaining Tony Blair and fending off US pressure to talk to Yasser Arafat. But Sharon also embarked on a course of unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Between 16 and 30 August 2005, Sharon controversially expelled 9,480 Jewish settlers from 21 settlements in Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank.

Decisionalism Dahl 1961

Behavior is visible; Behaviorism must

concentrate in actions (rather than inactions);

Elitist vision of Power is arrogant

Problem with non-decisions;

Problem with democratic ideal: people who do not vote they do not exercise their power. Who doesn't vote in Israeli politics

Voting among Israeli Arabs estimated to reach allVoting among Israeli Arabs estimated to reach allVoting among Israeli Arabs estimated to reach allVoting among Israeli Arabs estimated to reach all----time lowtime lowtime lowtime low Haaretz, December 12, 2008 Study: Only about 45 percent of eligible Israeli-Arabs will vote, endangering their Knesset representation. "A study commissioned by the Association for the Advancement of Democracy in the Arab Sector estimates that 52 percent of eligible Israeli Arab voters are certain they will actually head to the polls, as compared with 53 percent of Israeli-Arabs and 63 percent of Jewish Israelis in the last election cycle."

Non-decisionalism Bachrach and Baratz (1962) Sharkansky 2003

Real power is Not visible;

Power can be silent and must be discovered in places where issues did not show up.

Problems with non-decisions these are simply decisions not to decide;

Problems with democratic ideal back to elitism?

Sharkansky 2003Sharkansky 2003Sharkansky 2003Sharkansky 2003 "Non-decision is problematic, but widely used concept in political science. ... In this article we have illustrated one kind of non-decision for an Israeli casino that occurs elsewhere in policymaking: the lack of decision in behalf of the option that has some opponents, no great coalition of intense supporters, and which comes on the scene when there are far more pressing concerns to attract policymakers' attention. In such cases it is easy to not make a decision, and there

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are no great losers as a result." A non-decision that protects entrenched interests: agriculture and water: This is a case where non-decision is at least partly the result of an interest favored by present arrangements using its power to prevent a change in policy. Israel's farmers have benefited from highly favorable pricing of water compared to household and industrial users, as well as generous allotments of water quantities. "The case [water and subsidies to Israeli farmers] fits the pattern of entrenched interests preserving their benefits by holding off policymaking" (Sharkansky 2003).

Terms for the Exams (both midterm and final): Casino in Israel Towards the Typology of Non-decisionalism (Sharkansky 2003) Behaviorism (Dahl 1961) Decisionalism versus Non-Decisionalism (Bachrach & Baratz 1962); Definition of Power (Weber 1947) Israeli casino as a product of non-decision where there are no winners and no losers; Israeli water allotments as a product of non-decision that serves entrenched interests; Low levels of voting among Israeli Arabs and discontents of behaviorism; Reputation of Israeli leaders as a problematic tool to identify Power in Israeli politics Reputationalism (Hunter 1953); Structural superiority / inferiority (Barnett and Duvall 2005); Water Allocations in Israeli Politics and Entrenched Interests - Towards the Typology of Non-decisionalism

(Sharkansky 2003)

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Appendix 01: Power. Who are the Most Appendix 01: Power. Who are the Most Appendix 01: Power. Who are the Most Appendix 01: Power. Who are the Most PowerfulPowerfulPowerfulPowerful People in Israel 2014People in Israel 2014People in Israel 2014People in Israel 2014? (? (? (? (ForbesForbesForbesForbes, 2014), 2014), 2014), 2014)

Patrick Drahi joins the Forbes Billionaires list this year after Altice, the multinational telecommunications company he founded, raised $1.8 billion in a January 2014 Amsterdam IPO. Following a buy-low, sell high mantra, he built Altice through 20 acquisitions of lagging cable and mobile operators, often at knockdown prices in places like France, Belgium, Israel, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic. More than 40% of Altice's revenues comes from France while 27% comes from Israel. The son of two math teachers, he was born in Morocco and lived there for 15 years. He holds an engineering degree from the prestigious Parisian university cole Polytechnique and lives in Geneva with his wife and four children. Mr. Patrick Drahi is the Owner of HOT Mobile Ltd.

Patrick Drahi

Eyal Ofer's business interests are concentrated in shipping and global real estate. He is the principal of Zodiac Group, based in Monaco, and chairman of Zodiac Maritime Agencies, a privately-held London-based shipping corporation with a fleet of more than 130 vessels. His other shipping interests include privately held OMNI Offshore Terminals and a stake in NYSE-listed Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, where he has been a director for more than 15 years. His real estate holdings include the Altria Building and 15 Central Park West in New York and he is redeveloping the historic St. Vincent's Hospital, in Greenwich Village. He also has a stake in Mizrahi Tefahot bank in Israel. He and his younger brother Idan are the sons of late shipping magnate Sammy Ofer, who was once Israel's richest man and died in June 2011. Eyal has built up a significant trove of contemporary and modern art and inherited half of his father's vast collection, said to be one of the world's most magnificent.

Eyal Ofer

Founded Iscar, one of the world's largest (by sales) manufacturers of carbide industrial-cutting tools, which are used by carmakers like GM and Ford. Son Eitan, who along with his wife owns Israel's largest horse-breeding stud farm, is Iscar's president. Stef Wertheimer also seeds high-tech Israeli startups through four industrial parks. Recently built a windmill at the flagship Tefen industrial park. After fleeing Nazi Germany the grade school dropout joined the Palmach, the elite strike force of the Haganah (the pre-state defense organization). A former Israeli parliament member, he is today an ardent supporter of joint Israeli-Palestinian businesses. In 2002 he testified before Congress about his idea for a "new Marshall Plan" that advocates U.S. funding to revitalize the Middle East, a plan he still champions in speeches across the world.

Stef Wertheimer

In 2013 Shari Arison released her latest book ,"Activate Your Goodness: Transforming the World Through Doing Good." The bulk of her fortune comes from her late father, Ted, who founded Carnival Corporation. Her billionaire brother Micky chairs the cruise line company. She also has stakes in Israel's Bank Hapoalim and infrastructure behemoth Shikun & Binui Holdings Ltd. Israel's richest woman, she controls her investments and philanthropy through the Arison Group and the Ted Arison Family Foundation, which each year contributes to hundreds of nonprofits involved in health, education, disabilities and research. A resident of Tel Aviv, she has tried to position herself as a force for good in business by investing in projects like a massive desalination plant and a green shopping mall. In 2008 she started Miya, a $100 million venture that aims to maximize the efficiency of large urban water systems. She also launched International Good Deeds Day to advocate community service.

Shari Arison

Arnon Milchan's New Regency Productions had a mixed year, garnering critical praise for 12 Years a Slave and bombing with Runner Runner, a feature starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck that was universally panned. After decades of speculation, he finally admitted on Israeli TV that he worked in secret with Israel's government to get its nuclear program off the ground in the 1980s. Once a business student and professional soccer player, he transformed his family's bankrupt fertilizer company into a $125 million business with interests in agriculture, aerospace, animal health products, plastic, fiber optics and pharmaceuticals. An art collector, he has lately been making his own paintings. He owns seven homes around the world.

Arnon Milchan

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Israeli Politics Study Guide 002 Power Spring 2015