The city of Acre is a microcosm of Israeli society. Its citizens
include veteran Jewish settlers and newer Jewish immigrants from
both western and Arab backgrounds; indigenous Palestinian residents
and newer internal Palestinian refugees; large Jewish and
Palestinian working-class populations and a smaller Jewish and
Palestinian elite. These various groups hold competing interests
and visions of what it means to be a resident of Acre and how Acre
fits into a broader Israeli national identity.
Rebecca Torstrick's study focuses on the conditions that promote
and hinder coexistence between Acre's Jewish and Palestinian
citizens. Using a historical survey based partly on municipal
archives, interviews with residents of a mixed Arab-Jewish
neighborhood, a study of how children are educated about
Jewish-Arab relations, and a look at local elections, the author
explores the ways in which people jockey for power in this
community.
One of the main findings of the study is that Arab-Jewish
coexistence in Acre works best when the national state does not
intrude. State-controlled institutions promote particular
identities for Israelis (both ethnic/racial and national) and
attempt to use these constructions to limit the social
relationships that develop within local communities to those that
serve national interests. Thus the book argues that identities are
not "free floating" fragments; they are embedded in institutional
structures that channel the possibilities for social relations in
particular directions.
This book will be of interest both to a general audience and to
scholars in political science, sociology, Middle Eastern area
studies, anthropology, and cultural studies, as well as to analysts
of conflict resolution.
Rebecca L. Torstrick is Assistant Professor of Anthropology,
Indiana University-South Bend.
General
Imprint: |
The University of Michigan Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
July 2000 |
First published: |
July 2000 |
Authors: |
Rebecca L. Torstrick
|
Dimensions: |
230 x 162 x 31mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
296 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-472-11124-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Social sciences >
Politics & government >
General
|
LSN: |
0-472-11124-8 |
Barcode: |
9780472111244 |
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