The political economy of Israeli military action

Gad Barzilai, Bruce Russett

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter reviews short-term interactions among economic conditions, domestic politics, and the threat and use of military force against other nations. The principal analysis consists of a time-series multiple regression of the 1950-1988 period, with Israeli military operations as the dependent variable. Any “permanent plebiscite” is less important than the electoral pressures of the Israeli political system. The chapter shows that the Israeli experience is part of a wider phenomenon that affects democratic countries with intense security problems. Israeli backing for the war in Lebanon shows how drastically and rapidly popular support can be withdrawn from an unsuccessful war. During most of its history, Israel has been subjected to a variety of shellings, border incursions and other externally-mounted terrorist attacks. Military/security/peace-war issues are usually the dominant concerns that affect Israelis’ feelings of well-being, even more than are economic issues.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Elections In Israel--1988
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages13-36
Number of pages24
ISBN (Electronic)9781000244441
ISBN (Print)9780367291655
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 1990 Taylor and Francis.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

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