The Idea of Israel: Jewish Nationalism & Statehood - ARTS2330

Where did the idea of Israel originate, and how has it been applied in the modern era? This course will explore the origins of modern Jewish nationalism, or Zionism, in the mid-nineteenth century and chart its development through to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. We will discuss the influence of emancipation, nationalism, socialism and antisemitism on the Zionist movement. We will look at the practical development of Zionism, including the first waves of settlement, the Zionist World Congresses, and the development of the “New Jew”. Finally, we will look at the situation in Palestine itself: the Ottoman Empire, the historic Jewish community, the presence of the British, and relations with the Arab population. Through this story, we will examine what constitutes nationhood, and how people envisaged modernity.