Land‐centred nationalism and the state: a re‐evaluation of Jewish national revival

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of ‘land‐centred’ nationalism and suggests that it is important for distinguishing among different types of nationalism and for better understanding the role of land and place in this ideology. In order to demonstrate what land‐centred nationalism actually means, the article examines Zionism as a case study, arguing that some of the leading, early intellectual schools of this national movement (cultural, socialist, and religious Zionism) tended to underscore the role of the Land of Israel in collective identity rather than the role of the political community. Despite many differences in their general outlook, these schools all celebrated the land's spiritual role while neglecting or even opposing the idea of a Jewish state. This devaluation of the bond among citizens in favour of the bond of a people with their ancient land contributed to Zionism's contemporary difficulties and manifests the dangers of land‐centred nationalism more generally.

Ethics and the state: Israel's nationality law and the revision of a revolution

“…For the central role of the land in Biblical times, see also Sicker, 2019). Indeed, all of the schools of Zionism in Palestine cherished the land of Israel and associated with it some ethical project, beyond national and territorial interestseven if these schools agreed on little else (Ben-Israel, 1998;Chowers, 2018;Neumann, 2009). Cultural Zionists like Ahad Ha'am, wanted to establish in Eretz Yisrael a "spiritual centre" (not a state) that would help renew Jewish identity in the diaspora (Ahad Ha'am, 1947: 379).…”

National Identity in Israel History Lessons

“…It was emphasized to the students that Israel was the promised territory of God after the Jews had suffered long-suffering in exile. From this point of view, the nationalism to be instilled in students is territory-based nationalism (Chowers, 2018).…”